Online visas to GCC residents for Dubai visits

Starting from October, GCC residents will have to get their online visas for Dubai visits.

From October onwards, the visa service will be available only through online. No visa applications will be available at the airport upon arrival for expatriate residents of GCC countries.

According to officials from the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs in Dubai (GDRFA-Dubai)  - the visa facility will be available only through online for expatriate residents of GCC countries who wish to travel to the UAE.

Khaleej Times reported this new visa rules for GCC expatriates on Tuesday that expatriates residents will no longer need to wait in the queue to make payment for UAE visa entry permits upon arrival at the airport. Lt. Colonel Talal Al Shanqeeti, Assistant of the Director-General for Airport Affairs at the GDRFA-Dubai, said that the visa service, so far, is available both online and at the airport upon arrival. “But from October 2015 onwards, the service will be only available online in GDRFA website and there will be no visa applications at the airport upon arrival for this category” he said.

Major-General Mohammed Ahmed Al Marri, Director-General of the GDRFA-Dubai, said that the residency department in Dubai is working to create the procedures for all visitors and residents to the country and also to make their visit to Dubai an enjoyable experience.

He said it is for this reason that the GDRFA-Dubai introduced the online visa service for expatriates residing in GCC. Domestic helpers and others accompanying GCC citizens should apply for a visit visa and pay the fees online without having to stop at the airport to apply for the visa or to pay the fees.

“We encourage everyone coming from GCC countries to apply for the entry permits through online,” he said. Lt-Colonel Al Shanqeeti said that the GDRFA-Dubai will distribute brochures in Arabic and English to all visitors to Dubai from any of the GCC countries in order to raise the awareness on how to use the new service.

Also, the employees of the passport control counters at the airport will conduct a questionnaire on the new service to find out if people are aware of this services and if they know how to use it.