Dubai: Dubai welcomed the first Indian passport holder with a valid American visa and granted him visa on arrival on May 1, officials said on Tuesday.
On Tuesday, the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs in Dubai posted on its Instagram account a picture of the Indian passenger after his arrival.
“On the first day of activating the new order to Indian passport holders with a valid American visa for six months or a Green Card, our officers welcomed the first Indian passenger in the early hours at Dubai International Airport,” the GDRFA said.
The passenger was not identified by the officials.
Shaikh Khalid Bin Essam Al Qasimi, Chairman of Sharjah Civil Aviation Department, told Gulf News that they have also started granting visas on arrival to Indian passport holders with a valid American visa or Green Card.
Last month, the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation circulated a letter to authorities to grant the UAE visa on arrival to Indians with valid America visa or Green Card following a Cabinet decision.
The decision to have a simplified visa process is aimed at advancing the UAE-India relations in economics, politics and trade. It also contributes to achieving UAE’s vision to be the leading country in attracting global tourism.
“Citizens of the Republic of India who are holders of normal passports with a six-month or more valid Green Card or visa issued by the United States of America shall be granted entry visas to the UAE from all ports for a period of 14 days, subject for a single renewal for the same period upon payment of applicable fees,” an official statement said earlier in March.
Last year, the number of Indian tourists coming to the UAE reached 1.6 million, and around 50,000 UAE tourists visited India. There are about 143 flights every day between the two countries.
Strong bonds of friendship between the UAE and India have found clear expression in the series of high-level bilateral visits between the two countries in the past two years, The move of granting entry visas to the UAE aligns itself with the close cooperation between the two countries.
Indian passport holders with valid America visa or Green Card will get UAE visa on arrival and valid for 14 days, extendable for a similar period once.
The validity of the passport must be not less than six months and the fee for an entry permit will be Dh100.
The fee for one-time extension of the entry permit will be Dh250.
