The UAE has just announced free transit visas to all passengers flying through Abu Dhabi and Dubai. That's right: you can head out into the Emirates for 2 days, at no extra cost and very little fuss. Should you want to stay longer, get a 96-hour transit visa for just AED 50 (nearly Rs930).
The UAE government has also announced that it will be setting up several express counters at the passport control halls at airports across the Emirates to allow passengers to collect the transit visa. Do note that this is still a proposal and the official rule change is yet to kick in. Currently, a 96-hour transit visa to Dubai costs $44 (approx Rs3,000), with a processing time of up to four days.
The move is obviously good news for Indian tourists, who are the number one source of tourism for Dubai. As many as 1.8 crore Indian tourists visit the Pearl of the Persian Gulf.
UAE has also introduced relaxations in their visa policies for students, including a review of the current residency system which will allow a two-year extension for university students who are dependent on their parents. For job seekers, the visa can be extended by a 6-month period in case of an overstay provided that applicants want to work in the country.
Dubai is doing all it can to woo tourists. Recently, it launched a state-of-the-art airport installation titled ‘MyDubai Experience' at one of the busiest terminals in the airport. An interactive system, it uses touchscreens and is available in over eight languages to encourage passengers to view everything they can experience in the city. It then compiles and sends passengers a two-day itinerary based on their interests and preferred experiences via email.