UAE grants visa on arrival to Indian nationals with US visa, green card

The UAE Cabinet has approved a decision to grant Indian passport holders with either a valid US visa or a green card a visa on arrival.

The decision comes within the framework of the long-term strategic partnership between the UAE and India, the promotion of political, economic and trade interests between the two countries. This decision strengthens the UAE's external relations by facilitating the visa issuance process in order to confirm its global status as a tourist and economic hub.

Under the new move, ordinary passport holders from India who have a US visa or green card with a minimum six-month validity can enter the country from any point of entry for a period of 14 days, with an option for a one-time extension of the same period.

India is the UAE's second largest partner, and trade between the two countries reach $60 billion a year, with UAE exports to India amounting to $27 billion a year, while India exports to the UAE is valued at $33 billion.

India invests around $70 billion in the UAE via its 45,000 Indian companies, while the UAE invests around $10 billion in the energy, metallurgical, service, technology and construction sectors in India. There are also a number of joint ventures and investments by UAE companies in India such as the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, Abu Dhabi National Energy Company, Emaar, and DP World, which currently operates in six major ports in India.

There are around 143 daily flights between cities in both countries, one flight every ten minutes, or 1000 flights per week. The number of Indian tourists coming to the UAE in 2016 reached about 1.6 million Indian tourists, and there were about 50,000 UAE tourists who visited India in the same year.

Passenger seat belts - New traffic law will come into effect from July in U.AE

Drivers will be fined Dh400 for each passenger who is found without a seatbelt inside the vehicle, a senior official told Gulf News on Saturday.

General Mohammad Saif Al Zafein, head of the UAE Federal Traffic Council, said that even if the if the driver is wearing his seatbelt, he can be fined if other passengers on the back seats are not wearing seatbelts.

“The fine is Dh400 for each passenger not wearing a seatbelt, so if the driver is wearing a seatbelt and other three passengers are not wearing it, then he needs to pay Dh1,200 in total for the three passengers, with four traffic points. Drivers are responsible for ensuring that passengers are using the seatbelt,” General Al Zafein said.

The new regulations, covering a comprehensive range of traffic discipline issues and violations, will be implemented on the first of July, according to General Al Zafein.

Officially signed by Lieutenant General Shaikh Saif Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, the new regulations cover multiple violations, the penalties for which include heavy fines, black points, and impounding of vehicles.

Gen Al Zafein said that the new rules will restrict short people and children below 10 years of age from sitting in the front passenger seat given that the seatbelt can choke the person.

“Children under 10 and every person who his less than 145 cm in height will be banned from sitting on the passenger front seat. Officers can fine the driver Dh400. If the person is taller than 145 cm, then he needs to show any document showing his height or he can complain against the fine with the traffic department,” he said.

He added that appropriate child car seats must be used for all children under the age of four. Lack of child safety seats for children up to four years of age will invite a Dh400 fine and four black points.

Official statistics show that 725 people died in traffic accidents in the UAE last year and the new traffic law will help to reduce the number of death on the roads, Gen. Al Zafein said. “We want to reach a figure of 3 deaths for every 100,000 people in the UAE. This law will help us in reaching our target for safer and better roads,” he added.

RTA provides ‘student parking’ cards for college students in U.A.E

The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) announced the issuance of a subscription card branded "Student Parking" as part of its community-oriented initiatives for this segment. The initiative targets students who are studying in colleges, universities and higher academic institutions in Dubai emirate with a view to realizing RTA’s third strategic goal "People Happiness."

Usama Al Safi, Director of Parking at RTA’s Traffic and Roads Agency said, “The gesture is part of RTA’s initiatives and is in line with the Dubai Government drive to realize people happiness and deliver diverse and distinctive services to all community members. The ‘Student Parking’ card is issued to students of universities & higher academic institutions in Dubai and entitles them to use public parking lots around campuses within a 500-meter radius, bearing codes A, B, C and D, against a fee of Dh300 per three months.

“Documents required to obtain the Student Parking card are: approved certificate from the university or college proving that the applicant is registered as a student, the applicant's driving license, and a vehicle ownership card in the name of the applicant or any of his or her first or second-degree relatives. The Parking Card bears specific details for validation such as vehicle registration number, type of card, validity date, and authorized areas.

“A maximum of three vehicles can be added to a single card providing that it is used for only one vehicle at a time. The card should be displayed on the vehicle windscreen to avoid offences, and is invalid for use in reserved or designated parking slots for other entities or categories,” noted Maitha. She called on university & college students in Dubai to make use of the Student Parking card to facilitate finding suitable parking and avoid delay in attending classes and exams by communicating with RTA’s customer service via 8009090 or visiting the website (www.rta.ae).