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28 March 2024

Online UAE visas for GCC residents

Published
By Staff

The Ministry of Interior, represented by the Naturalisation, Residency and Ports Sector, has launched an online service to allow GCC residents to get their UAE entry permits (visas) via the various ports across the country, through the ‘Fawri’ portal on the ministry’s website www.moi.gov.ae.

These measures are in line with the Ministerial Decree No. 377 of 2014, and in accordance with the required conditions and procedures.

Major General Khalifa Hareb Al Khaili, Assistant Undersecretary of the Ministry of Interior for Naturalisation, Residency and Ports, indicated that the new service comes in line with the Ministry of Interior’s keenness to keep pace with technology advances in order to expedite passenger movement at the various ports and streamline the visa issuance procedure for passengers before arriving to the country, ultimately save time and effort for travelers.

Adding further, Major General Al Khaili said: “Launching the online visa issuance service for GCC residents and their escort is a paradigm shift in upgrading services’ efficiency, within an integrated strategy towards smart transformation of services and ensure their availability through the Ministry of Interior’s website and smartphones.

“This approach is in line with the vision of the government aimed at upgrading services provided to the public and empowering the concept of fast, high-quality services.”

For his part, Lt. Colonel Matar Kharbash, Head of E-services Department at the Naturalisation, Residency and Ports Affairs sector, Head of the team supporting smart e-transition at the Naturalisation, Residency and Ports Sector, stressed the MoI’s diligent pursuit to develop smart e-services so as to enhance public satisfaction while maintaining a high level of professionalism that exceeds all expectations in various police sectors in the country.

Moreover, Major General Al Khaili pointed out that the visit visa is issued at various ports in the country, in accordance with Article 42 for GCC expats (not obtaining a prior visa or permission), allows him/her to enter into the territory of the country if he belongs to any of the following categories:

-       Businessmen, investors, partners and company managers and representatives;

-       Accountants, auditors, doctors, engineers, lawyers and legal advisers;

-       Public sector workers other than workers and labourers;

-       Family members of the abovementioned individuals or entities and their escort, namely the helpers, and individuals sponsored by them;

-       Foreign family members of GCC nationals, their sponsored helpers and escorts;

-       GCC truck drivers transporting goods from any of the GCC countries. They are required to submit a sponsor’s letter of no objection (NOC) from the sponsoring entity in the country of issuance;

-       Sponsored of citizens who have residence permits in GCC countries.

Services within reach

For his part, Lieutenant Colonel Faisal Mohammed Al Shimmari, CEO of the Smart Government Programme at the Ministry of Interior, underlined the commitment of the Ministry to improve smart e-services provided to customers to reflect the UAE vision 2021.

“This is achieved through maintaining the levels of service availability and standards of quality and excellence, so as to boost the customer’s confidence and satisfaction and meet their expectations,” said Lt. Colonel Al Shimmari.

It has allocated the phone number 800500 to receive their enquiries during business hours to facilitate the completion of transactions.

He called upon the public to provide the ministry with any proposals that would enhance the services provided to them via the Email: mobile@moi.gov.ae.