The UAE has reintroduced the three-month visit visa. Previously, the three-month or 90-day visa was discontinued and replaced with a longer-term 60-day visa for visitors planning to stay in the country for an extended period.

A representative from the Federal Authority For Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Port Security (ICP) call center confirmed that individuals interested in visiting the UAE for 90 days can take advantage of this opportunity. They advised consulting travel agents who can assist in obtaining the 90-day visit visa.

Experts in the industry have reported that this reintroduction occurred at the end of May 2023, enabling visitors to remain in the UAE for up to 90 days. However, it is possible to extend the visa within the country for an additional fee, which varies depending on the service provider.

Types of entry permits

“There are two categories of entry permits available: tourist visas or leisure visas, and visit visas,”

explained Subair Thekepurathvalappil, senior manager for inbound and outbound operations at Regal Tours Worldwide. He further mentioned that a tourist visa is typically issued for either 30 or 60 days, while a visit visa allows for a 90-day stay. This extended visit visa option complements the existing tourist visa choices, providing travelers with increased flexibility in planning their itineraries.

The 30-day and recently introduced 60-day tourist visas have been popular among visitors seeking shorter stays in the UAE. These visas offer sufficient time to explore the country’s renowned landmarks and enjoy its world-class shopping and dining experiences.

Who can apply?

According to Libin Varghese, sales director at Rooh Tourism LLC, many residents are unaware of the reintroduced three-month visa offered by the authorities. Industry experts have clarified that this visa is open to anyone and is valid for both Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

Varghese further explained that currently, there hasn’t been a significant number of inquiries about this visa. However, individuals who are particularly interested in this entry permit are often family members of residents in the UAE. They may wish to spend an extended period in the country, such as children visiting during school vacations or parents of residents.

According to Subair, in the past, the UAE offered two types of entry permits: a leisure visa with a validity of three months and a tourist visa with a validity of 30 days. However, recent changes in visa procedures have introduced additional options. Last year, the authorities implemented modifications that allowed for the extension of the three-month visa within the country by paying an extension fee. This change was well-received and gained popularity among visitors.

Visa fee

The cost of a 90-day visit visa can differ based on the travel agent or agency handling the visa application. The fee typically starts at Dh1,500 and can go up to Dh2,000. It is important to note that the specific details regarding visa extensions have not been announced yet since the visa was recently introduced. According to Varghese, further information regarding the extension process will be made available in due course.

Documents required

To apply for the long-term visit visa, Subair explains that the following documents need to be submitted:

• Recent passport-size colored photograph
• Copy of the passport

The processing time for the visa application may vary, but Subair mentions that it can take up to five working days. However, in some cases, it is possible to receive the visa within two days.

SOURCE: Focus.hidubai

Dubai will have five times as many beaches by 2040, following a major announcement to develop tourism and wellbeing for residents.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai made the announcement on social media, after a visit to Jebel Ali Beach.

The ambitious plans will see the emirate increase the area of beaches in the emirate from 21km to 105km.

Dubai beach plan

Sheikh Mohammed said there will also be a 300 per cent increase in the services on public beaches by 2025.

Sheikh Mohammed’s Twitter message said: “Within the Dubai Urban Plan, we have adopted the development and doubling of public beaches by 400% by 2040. increasing its area from 21km now to 105km and raising the percentage of services by 300% on public beaches by 2025.

We launched the first urban plan in Dubai in the 1960s. Development in Dubai is continuing and we are still at the beginning. We will continue to provide the best standard of living for individuals and families in services and projects globally”

“The new urban projects will add to the renewed dazzle in the emirate and will support our economic and tourism agenda for the next decade.”

Sheikh Mohammed said the city will continue to compete with itself to be the ideal place for visitors and residents.

“Our goal is to consolidate the leading position achieved by Dubai as one of the most beautiful and most developed cities in the world,” he added.

Earlier this month it was announced a new beach in the city will be dog-friendly and a hub for water sports.

The newly opened beach will be the first family-friendly beach in the city to allow dogs to swim, says developer Nakheel.

The new beach is located along the emirate’s northern coastline and is now open from sunrise to sunset.

The new beach is poised to become the go-to destination for water sports and beach sports enthusiasts, just a few steps away from Centara Mirage Beach Resort and Hotel Riu.

SOURCE: Arabianbusiness.

Tourism Minister Hon. Edmund Bartlett has revealed that plans are afoot to facilitate tourism cooperation between Jamaica and Dubai.

This is following a meeting with H.E. Abdulla Al Saleh, Undersecretary of Foreign Trade and Industry in the Ministry of Economy in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

They met recently at the UAE’s Ministry of Economy, which has oversight for tourism in the UAE, where they discussed areas for cooperation in tourism that will redound to the benefit of both countries and their citizens.

Minister Bartlett outlined that Dubai will support us in terms of MICE market development, logistics and technology and we will reciprocate in terms of resilience and sustainability, the building out of human capital programs, product development and marketing.

In expressing his enthusiasm at the possibilities for collaboration in cruise tourism, Minister Bartlett noted that Dubai Ports, one of the largest in the world with enormous capacity, is looking for partnerships across the world and Jamaica is a good place to start.

A key matter that was also explored during the meeting was the possibility of establishing an outpost of the Jamaica-based Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre (GTRCMC) in the UAE.

This would mark the center’s latest satellite location, adding to its offices in countries including Kenya, Jordan and Canada.

The tourism minister indicated that further discussions will be held to formalize these arrangements through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) when both countries convene alongside other nations at COP 28 this November.

The Jamaica Ministry of Tourism and its agencies are on a mission to enhance and transform Jamaica’s tourism product, while ensuring that the benefits which flow from the tourism sector are increased for all Jamaicans.

To this end it has implemented policies and strategies that will provide further momentum for tourism as the engine of growth for the Jamaican economy.

The Ministry remains committed to ensuring that the tourism sector makes the fullest contribution possible to Jamaica’s economic development given its tremendous earning potential.

Source: Travel and Tour

The visitors in Q1 2023 were just two percentage points short of the pre-pandemic volume of 4.75 million tourists that arrived in Dubai in the first three months of 2019

Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) said the city received 4.67 million international overnight visitors in the first quarter of 2023, up 17 per cent year-on-year (YoY) from 3.97 million the same period a year earlier.

The visitors in Q1 2023 were just two percentage points short of the pre-pandemic volume of 4.75 million tourists that arrived in Dubai in the first three months of 2019.

“The tourism sector is not only the strongest pillar of our economy but also a key enabler of Dubai’s distinctive role in the world as a bridge between markets, cultures and regions,” Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai said in a tweet.

The latest data from DET, which was announced at the Arabian Travel Market, positions Dubai as the fastest-recovering destination globally, achieving 98 per cent of pre-pandemic levels in Q1 2023.

The latest figures also exceed the projection made by the United Nations World Trade Organisation (UNWTO) that international tourist arrivals could reach between 80 to 95 per cent of pre-pandemic levels in 2023 – especially in Europe and the Middle East.

The growth, which sets the city on course to full tourism recovery, contributes to the goal of the Dubai Economic Agenda D33.

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed said the Middle East tourism and business hub will continue to introduce new initiatives to offer a distinctive proposition for travellers to achieve its goal of becoming the world’s best place to live, visit, work and invest in.

Dubai’s strong rebound

Dubai’s traditional source markets delivered solid tourism volumes in Q1 2023 with key regions continuing to make an impact on international visitation.

GCC and the MENA region combined was the top region, collectively contributing to 29 per cent of total volumes, Western Europe accounted for 22 per cent of tourism arrivals and South Asia 16 per cent.

Similarly, the Commonwealth of Independent States and Eastern Europe together contributed 15 per cent, the Americas accounted for 7 per cent, North Asia and South East Asia 6 per cent, Africa 4 per cent and lastly Australasia contributed 1 per cent.

The hotel sector saw a surge in performance in Q1 2023 with an average occupancy for the sector during the January-March period at an impressive 83 per cent, making it one of the highest in the world, almost on par with the 84 per cent occupancy recorded in Q1 2019.

Dubai hotels collectively provided 10.98 million Occupied Room Nights in the first three months of the year, 7 per cent YoY growth and a 27 per cent increase compared to the pre-pandemic period of Q1 2019.

The ADR of Dhs607 during the first three months of the year surpassed the ADR of 2019 (AED498), a 22 per cent YoY growth while RevPAR of DhsD504 in Q1 2023, surged by 21 per cent compared to the first three months of the pre-pandemic period of 2019 at Dhs417.

DET said it is ramping up its pursuit of non-traditional tourism avenues to attract more visitors and this approach will largely hinge on the pillars of sustainability, gastronomy, trade and technology.

Dubai plans to continue providing alternative growth avenues, driven by reforms and regulatory enablers including visa initiatives such as the golden visa, five-year multi-entry visa, virtual working, and retirement in the Dubai programmes that have eased barriers to entry.

Source: Gulf Business

Dubai’s Department for Economy and Tourism DET has continued with its efforts to make the middle eastern city, the global hospitality headquarters, with several awareness creation measures, including engaging African celebrities to preach its gospel.

Just recently DET brought on board the popular Kenyan artist, Bahati alongside South African investment banker-turned-singer-songwriter, Thabsie as part of its summer campaign.

According to the department, the objective of the campaign was to “explore the A to Z of Dubai and all the amazing sights and sounds that Africans can enjoy”.

The celebrities were treated to a week-long experience with all the fun and a host of exciting offers in Dubai set for this summer, leaving their fans with keen interest to share in their joy.

Speaking at a media welcome party, Thabsie told her fans; “Come here and experience it for yourself because a lot of our views of Dubai are off what we are told. The reality is even better”.

Bahati who came on the trip with his wife – Diana, has kept the internet engrossed with contents of their trip in Dubai.

The couple appreciated the team for trusting their brand to be part of the campaign. “Thank you, Dubai Tourism, for trusting we the Bahatis with this role. I cannot wait for the world to see the magic we have created”, the duo stated.

With a long list of African celebrities lining up to work with DET, Bahatis and Thabsie make their way to the stage as the newest Ambassadors, telling the story of beautiful Dubai to the rest of Africa.

In the past few years, DET had made deliberate efforts to ensure Dubai echoes in the ears of Africans around the world. Strategies like, on the ground ‘Road Shows’ in Africa, Media and Stakeholder FAM Trips to Dubai, Celebrity campaigns and general publicity, have boosted the global awareness of the Dubai brand, and place them as second to none in hospitality.

A key success of Dubai’s awareness strategies can be measured by the impressive ratings the middle eastern city has been getting across the global hospitality landscape. Earlier this year, Trip Advisor ranked Dubai as the Number One Destination in the world for a 2nd year running and just recently the Dubai Airport was ranked as the busiest airport in the world.

The aviation hub, which has consistently outranked all its global peers, including London Heathrow, logged 4.2 million seats in February 2023, according to the aviation consultancy firm, OAG.

A few projects carried out by DET to maintain this tempo include, the AfroZons Dubai Sound Off, the Dubai Girls trip, Kate and Nedu, Brodashaggi and many other activations, within and outside Dubai. But with the difficulties for Nigerians to go to Dubai, the popular tourist destination is looking elsewhere for passengers.

Source: Vanguard

Accor, a world-renowned hospitality group, has announced plans to open Mantis Soanambo Hotel & Spa on Nosy Boraha (Ile Sainte-Marie) in Madagascar, marking the first international hospitality brand on the island. The Mantis Collection, part of Accor, is a renowned conservation-led hospitality company that prioritizes the preservation of local communities, wildlife, and the environment. The 48-room oceanfront hotel, which plans to reopen in May 2023, will fly the Mantis flag and offer guests an exceptional hospitality experience.

Accor has partnered with the hotel’s owner to bring Mantis hotels, eco-lodges, and waterways to Madagascar, joining ibis Hotel and Spa Antananarivo and Novotel Convention and Spa Antananarivo as the third Accor hotel under the same ownership group in Madagascar’s capital city, diversifying the group’s brand offering in the country.

Guests at Mantis Soanambo Hotel & Spa will be warmly welcomed in the breezy, open-plan reception area and invited to relax at the delightful bar and restaurant. The hotel features two serene swimming pools with incomparable views of the ocean, just a few meters away. The tranquil beaches and laid-back atmosphere of Nosy Boraha make it an ideal spot for a secluded getaway.

Located in the Southwest part of the island, Mantis Soanambo Hotel & Spa enjoys calm seas and shelter from prevailing weather conditions, with the Island of Nosy Boraha just a 45-minute flight from Antananarivo via Tsaradia airlines, the domestic division of Air Madagascar.

Each Mantis property celebrates its unique destination, offering creatively curated experiences that introduce guests to the essence of the surrounding community’s culture, history, and people. Mantis follows a philosophy of responsible and ecologically sensitive development and operations, supporting the local environment while conserving and maintaining all natural resources.

Mantis Soanambo Hotel & Spa will operate in accordance with Accor’s environmental and energy efficiency reporting tools, internal carbon price monitoring, eco-certification programs, and brand standard sustainability criteria.

Source: Zurulink Africa

UAE residents will enjoy a long weekend to celebrate the Islamic festival after the holy month of Ramadan

With the Eid Al Fitr 4-day long weekend just around the corner, many UAE residents are utilising the opportunity to take a quick trip. According to travel experts, most residents prefer budget and visa-friendly destinations.

“That’s why CIS countries such as Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Armenia are quite popular, while Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan are gaining momentum alongside Singapore, Kenya, Thailand and Malaysia,” said Raheesh Babu, COO, Musafir.com.

“Since receiving visas to Schengen countries, [as getting visas for] the UK, USA and Canada is still challenging, people are more skewed towards countries where obtaining visas is hassle-free. Holiday packages within the range of Dh3000-4000 are fancied, and are in great demand.”

The official Eid Al Fitr holiday in the UAE is from Ramadan 29 to Shawwal 3 (Hijri Islamic calendar months) meaning UAE residents will get at least a 4-day break. As per Astronomical calculations, Eid will be most likely fall on Friday, April 21st. If so, the break will be from Thursday, April 20, to Sunday, April 23. If Eid falls on Saturday, April 22, residents will get an additional day of holiday on Monday, April 24.

Here are the top 6 destinations that residents prefer:

MAURITIUS

The island of Mauritius is lined with white-sand beaches and world-renowned luxury resorts on all sides. Its mountainous landscapes offer epic hiking paths, whilst its coral reefs and flourishing marine life offer world-class diving opportunities.

Known for being a tourist paradise, Mauritius has something to offer for every kind of traveler. While families can enjoy water activities or visit the island’s parks, couples can soak in the romantic vibes of the island with scenic strolls along the beach.

KENYA

Known for its natural beauty, open jungles and unique culture, Kenya is fast becoming popular among travellers from the UAE. The Masai Mara safari takes tourists through a reserve that is world-renowned for its exceptional populations of lions, African leopards, cheetahs, and elephants, and has the largest population of black rhinos in Africa.

It also has over 450 species of birds, with almost 60 species being raptors.

AZERBAIJAN

Whether you choose to explore the vibrant city of Baku, or head to Guba to learn about the timeless history of the country hidden in its villages; whether you decide to explore the forested slopes of Sheki, or sample the unique cuisine of Nakhchivan, Azerbaijan is a country of many faces.

Extremely popular among UAE residents, the country offers visa on arrival to UAE residents.

KYRGYZSTAN

A landlocked country in Central Asia, Kyrgyzstan is home to three UNESCO World Heritage sites. Known as the land of celestial mountains and untouched nature, visitors can learn about the true nomadic lifestyle during a visit to the country.

The Tien Shan mountain range, historic Silk Road and crystal-clear mountain lakes all make the country a true hidden gem to visit.

GEORGIA

From skiing down the mountains of Bakuriani, to rafting down the Aragvi River, or stargazing at 4,000 metres high, the country offers a range of exciting activities for visitors to choose from.

Georgia has become a top travel destination since it began offering visa on arrival to UAE citizens and residents. No visit to the country would be complete without tasting the local delicacy Khachapuri – a unique bread, shaped like a boat and filled with cheese, into which an egg is cracked, before being baked to perfection.

JORDAN

With a mix of modernity and tradition, Jordan is well known for its World Heritage sites and beautiful sandy landscapes. From the enchanting starkness of Wadi Rum to the restless city centre of urban Amman, the country is home to countless wonders.

The Dead Sea, a natural wonder, is located 427 metres below sea level, and is a major tourist attraction that draws millions of visitors every year.

Source: Zwaya