The UAE extends its tourist visa for 5 years

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President of the Emirates, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, has announced the change of the tourist visa system in his country to be five-year multi-use

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President of the Emirates, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, tweeted on his social networking site, Twitter, today, Monday, A different year because it is the year of preparation for the 50th year in which we design the future emirates.

United Arab Emirates (UAE) has always fascinated travellers around the world. Now travelling to UAE would become much easier, as the country has decided to issue a multiple-entry tourist visa scheme for all nationalities.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, on Monday announced that the tourist visa in the UAE will be issued for five years from now.

Previously, the tourist visas were valid for only 30 to 90 days. But now, tourist of any nationality can have the benefit of five-year visa.

This step was taken in order to boost tourism economy in the country and to lure travelers from all around the world to gulf countries. The government is also trying to convert gulf countries into global tourist destination.

Tourist visas to the United Arab Emirates will be valid for five years, Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum said Monday on Twitter, part of a campaign to lure holiday makers to Gulf countries.

The visas were previously valid for 30 to 90 days.

Gulf nations eager to diversify their economies away from oil have been taking steps to encourage tourism in recent years. Saudi Arabia opened applications for online visas in September, and Qatar scrapped visas altogether for citizens of 80 countries in 2017.

“Economic activity in the U.A.E. has softened in recent years,” said Bilal Khan, senior economist at Standard Chartered Bank in Dubai. “Attracting a greater number of visitors over the could help revive demand over the medium-term,” particularly after the expected boost from this year’s World Expo in Dubai fades, he added.

Heightened tensions in the region over the U.S.’s killing of Iran’s most powerful general have cast a pall over Gulf states’ tourism marketing plans. On Sunday, the U.S. State Department issued a warning to Americans visiting or living in the U.A.E.