Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, announced on Monday that tourist visas in the UAE will now be issued for five years.
UAE, in the past few years, has been a hot tourist spot and this news will definitely boost UAE’s tourist population manifold.
Announcing the change, Sheikh Mohammed tweeted, ‘today, we change the system of issuing tourist visas in the country, to make the duration of the tourist visa for five-years, multiple uses, for all nationalities.’
He further added that they receive more than 21 million tourists annually, and they want to establish the UAE as an international tourist destination.
The move comes in a bid to support the UAE’s tourism economy, and affirm the country’s position as a global tourist destination.
During the meeting, the cabinet reviewed last year’s achievements and approved the new tourist visa. Sheikh Mohammed also announced that the visa would be available to all nationalities.
The idea behind the major move is to establish the UAE as a major global tourism destination. It forms part of the country’s larger plans for the next 50 years of development.
He further tweeted, ‘the year 2020 will be different because it is the year of preparation for the next 50, the year in which we design the future of the Emirates.’
The move is expected to provide a boost to the tourism industry and make it easier for residents to bring relatives to the country for visits.