UAE visa fee hike next month

Dubai: A recent Cabinet decision will soon see visit visa and other fees increase next month, Al Khaleej and Al Bayan newspapers reported on Friday.

The reports said His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, issued a Cabinet decision amending the 1994 Cabinet decision No. 6 in relation to additional fees on the Department of Naturalisation and Residency services rendered to the public, such as visit visa fees.

According to the reports, Article 2 of the decision stipulates that special entry visas and courtesy visa will be fees exempted.

Visas issued upon an invitation from an official UAE source will also be fees exempted.

Article 3 stipulates that all provisions contradicting the provisions of this decision are void.

And Article 4 stipulates that the decision will come into effect after its being issued in the official gazette.

Expatriates' home

One expatriate Adel Fuad Mohammad Ali, Director of the Beirut Shipping Company in Dubai, told Gulf News the decision will not affect his work: "Dubai, will remain Dubai, the Free Zone of the Arab world, the cosmopolitan city where you see over 174 nationalities from all around the world. Even in Russia, everything is more expensive than Dubai, so when the leadership here decides on an issue, we accept gladly, as we are all very lucky to have a place such as Dubai where everyone can work and profit."

Shireen Hassan, a senior engineer, said: "When the owner of the house decides who should enter his house, this is his prerogative. No one can dispute his decision. Upon visiting European countries, one has to pay a certain un-refundable sum just to process the visa procedures, but we do not hear anyone protesting.

"It is the law and as long as it is being applied equally to everyone, then no one can complain."

George Samuel, an Indian expatriate who has worked in Dubai since 1994, told Gulf News the increase is exorbitant and unjustified, as the cost of living is not proportional to the wages and salaries given in Dubai based companies.

"Also, the tourism visa fee is Dh100, while a short visit entry visa is for Dh500, how will the authorities distinguish between the two," he asked.