UAE allows multiple entry visit visas to foreigners

In a move set to redraw and further strengthen the tourism and trade sector in the UAE, which is already doing very well, UAE has just announced and confirmed that Multiple Entry Visit Visas may be issued for three categories of visitors. This will give tremendous boost for the UAE economy especially in the tourism, airline, hotel and restaurant sectors aside from strengthening various trade related sectors.

Note: Visit visas only allow persons to visit and will not allow tourists to open bank accounts or buy a car or obtain a driving licence etc, for all of which, a UAE residence visa is mandatory. However, the owner of real estate in UAE with a value in excess of AED 1m / USD 273k becomes eligible to obtain a UAE residency visa and enjoy a tax free and crime free lifestyle and can thereafter open a bank account or buy a car etc.

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.

Multiple entry visas can be issued by both the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs and UAE’s Consular offices abroad.

Those eligible for the multiple entry visas include businessmen, property investors and tourists.

Businessmen and professionals abroad who have dealing with a public or private institution or a company in the UAE, and who require frequent visits, are eligible for multiple entry.

Also, those foreigners who own property in the UAE – and their spouse and children - can avail that the multiple entry visa.

Tourists on board cruise ships will be eligible for multiple entry as their schedule includes entering the country more than once.

Conditions

• However, in order for the multiple entry visas to be granted, certain conditions have to be fulfilled.
• For the business visitor, the multiple entry visa allows him to enter the country several times during the six months from the date of issuance of the visa. The stay during each visit should not exceed 30 days.
• If the foreign visitor to UAE owns a property, the visa allows him to enter the country several times during the six months from the date of issuance of the visa and allow him to stay as long as the visa is valid.
• If the purpose for visiting the country is tourism and the visitor is coming on board one of the cruise ships, the permission allows him or her to enter the country several times during the three months from the date of issuance of the visa and stay a maximum of 14 days each time from date of entry.

UAE Missions Abroad

The UAE’s ambassadorial and consular mission abroad can issue a ‘courtesy visa’ to certain categories of visitors.

They have been allowed to issue visit visas exempt from the requirement of a sponsor.

Holders of diplomatic and United Nations passports can be given multiple entry visas for three months by UAE mission abroad.

These visas allow entry to the UAE for multiple times during three months from the date of the issuance. It also allows the holder to stay during each visit for nor more than 30 days from the date of entry as long as the visa is valid.