NEW DELHI, Oct 18: The United Arab Emirates (UAE), which is already one of the preferred locations for Indians travelling abroad, now seems set to welcome even more Indian travellers due to recent changes in its visa policy for additional Indian nationals.
The Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship, Customs and Ports Security (ICP) announced on Thursday that an increased number of Indian nationals will now be eligible for visas on arrival in the UAE.
Indian citizens with tourist visas for the UK and EU countries can now obtain a visa on arrival which was previously available to individuals holding residence or tourist visas for the US, as well as those with residencies in the UK and EU.
Additionally, the authority, said a 60-day visa can now be issued for 250 Dirham (Rs 5,700) to these eligible Indian travellers. Other Indian passport holders will still need to apply for an e-visa, which is available through an online application process. This new policy is also believed to make the process of UAE stopovers easier for Indians who are travelling to the UK or the US.
(Manas Dasgupta)