How the new UAE visa rules will affect you

Changes to visa regulations in the UAE could result in the country being free of illegal immigrants by the end of the year,, but new visa regulations, which will be introduced today, have created a lot of confusion among local people and visitors.

Here is the guide to how the changes will affect you.

Citizens from the 33 countries which currently receive entry permits on arrival will largely be unaffected by the new rules. The only difference is that these entry permits can only be renewed for an additional 30 days rather than 60 days at a cost of 620 dirhams.

The following nations are exempt: Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Monaco, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, The Netherlands, UK, US and Vatican City.

Passport holders in countries not exempt must pay a refundable deposit of 1,000 dirhams (US$272) and be covered by health insurance for the period of their stay.

A visit visa will not be required for tourists who book into hotels or who book holidays through a registered tour operator or agency. Instead, they must carry a tourist visa, costing 100 dirhams, which can be issued through the hotel or agency.

The tourist agency will have to pay 75,000 dirhams to the government when opening the agency and a refundable 1,000 dirhams for every visa for tourists from certain countries. The company must also provide a full itinerary for the traveller for their stay.

A visit visa can be applied for 60 days, prior to entering the country, is valid for 30 days, and can be renewed once for an additional 30 days at a charge of 610 dirhams if processed online and 620 dirhams if submitted manually at the Department of Naturalization and Residency offices (DRND).

The cost of issuing a tourist visa is 210 dirhams if processed online and 220 dirhams if submitted by hand at the DNRD office.

Residents can apply for a 30 day or 90 day visit visa for their spouse or blood relative, but will not be allowed to sponsor friends.

The new regulations will put an end to ‘visa runs’. Those without residency will have to pay the renewal fee or leave the country for at least 30 days before returning.

Visa runs to Kish Island, Oman and other neighbouring countries have also been stopped. People wanting to change their visas must return to their home countries.
Every week we issue about 250 visas for Iranian and Filipino passport holders at a cost of 600dhs each.

Riyadh deportation centre overflowing

A deportation centre in Riyadh is overflowing with ‘runaway’ maids, convicts and foreigners denied entry into the country as the cost of flights out of Saudi Arabia soars.

Detainees are kept in camps before they are deported to their home countries and are given the option to return early if they pay for their own flights.

But Saudi Airlines has more than doubled the price of a single flight, citing a labour counselor at the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Riyadh.
Filipino maids are staying at an embassy-run safe house waiting to return.
Days ago, the Philippine Embassy issued an advisory to all Filipinos not to runaway from their employer, instead, they must seek the assistance of the Embassy POLO Office for any job-related problems. Likewise, Ambassador Antonio P. Villamor discourages Filipinos, who travel to Jeddah risking themselves to travel by backdoor, saying that the Saudi government is now tightening its campaign against those expatriates who shall go on exit from the Kingdom without proper documentation.

40 transvestites face deportation

Dubai- Forty cross-dressing tourists have been arrested in shopping malls and other public places in Dubai and they will be deported soon.

The visitors were held after police launched a campaign against transvestites in May. The 40 offenders were referred to the Public Prosecution, which issued an administrative deportation order against them, UAE daily Gulf News reported.

All of those arrested were visitors and tourists and not residents, police stressed. Any man or woman who dresses up and behaves like the opposite gender in public will be questioned and legal action will be taken against him or her, police chiefs have warned.

The Meaning

To love is to share life together
to build special plans just for two
to work side by side
and then smile with pride
as one by one, dreams all come true.

To love is to help and encourage
with smiles and sincere words of praise
to take time to share
to listen and care
in tender, affectionate ways.

Love Is ...

Love is the greatest feeling,
Love is like a play,
Love is what I feel for you,
Each and every day,
Love is like a smile,
Love is like a song,
Love is a great emotion,
That keeps us going strong,
I love you with my heart,
My body and my soul,
I love the way I keep loving,
Like a love I can't control,
So remember when your eyes meet mine,
I love you with all my heart,
And I have poured my entire soul into you,
Right from the very start.

Dubai to bid for Olympics!

Dubai will bid for the Olympic Games and will host it at Dubai Sports City.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, also vice president and prime minister of the UAE, was briefing journalists on a flight from Beijing to Shanghai as part of his state visit to China when he revealed his intention to begin studying an Olympic bid.

He declined to give further details and did not name a target year to host the games.
Dubai Sport City is currently under construction and will feature a 25,000-seater cricket stadium, a 60,000-seater outdoor arena that could hold track and field events, and a 10,000-seater multi-purpose indoor arena.

It will be one of the largest sports complexes in the world.

Dubai has long been associated with major sporting events and global sports sponsorship deals. The emirate already hosts professional tennis, golf and rugby events.

The UAE’s capital, Abu Dhabi, will host its first ever Formula 1 Grand Prix next year.