Residents see Schengen-style GCC visa

Hailing as a step in the right direction, residents in the UAE have welcomed the introduction of multiple entry visas to the country.

This move, they believe, will make life simpler for many who wish to call their relatives or family members on a visit visa.

 “It’s great. I have to call people from my extended family every now and then and getting a new visa for them each time is an expensive affair. A multiple entry visa can solve this problem,” said Ashish Bhardwaj, an Indian resident in Dubai.

Agrees Nitin Agrwal, another Indian expat living in the UAE. “This will greatly benefit people from the sub-continent. We have a big community here and I believe more Indians will come here as tourists now,” he said.

 “I’m really not impacted by this move as people from Europe get a visa on arrival but am sure it will benefit those who need a visit visa to enter the country,” said a German national living in New Dubai.

The UAE has allowed multiple entry visas in keeping with the requirements of some foreigners who need to visit the country from time to time.

A ministerial decree No. 418 of 2012 allowing for multiple entry visas was issued by Lt. General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior. It amended some provisions of the law of entry and residence of foreigners, Al Bayan newspaper said.

Those eligible for the multiple entry visas include businessmen, property investors and tourists. However, details on the new rule are awaited.

After this move, the residents are hopeful of a Schengen-style GCC visa for countries within the bloc.

 “A unified visa has been long overdue. I hope it happens soon,” said a Sri Lankan national in Dubai.

A committee has already been set up to by Gulf states to study possibility of issuing unified GCC visas to foreigners and businessmen have started working on putting together rules and regulations.

If this Schengen-style unified visa is introduced, foreign tourists and businessmen would be allowed to travel to any of the six Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, giving a big boost to business and tourism industry across the region.

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