You can now go to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) with your Schengen visa.
Indian nationals with regular passports can now obtain a visa on arrival (VOA) at any entrance point in the UAE, the country said on Friday.
Those with green cards, permanent residence cards, or valid visas, including tourist visas from the US, UK, or any EU country, are covered by this new regulation.
Options for Visas
When they arrive, eligible Indian travelers will have two options for getting a visa:
1. A 14-day visa The cost usually ranges from AED 120 to 150 (about Rs 2,700 to Rs 3,400), and there is a choice to extend it for an extra 14 days for a comparable cost.
2. 60-day visa: This option costs around AED 1,100-1,200 (approximately Rs 24,500-27,000), and it is non-extendable.
Passport validity requirement
To qualify for the visa-on-arrival, passports must be valid for at least six months from the date of entry into the UAE.
This latest visa-on-arrival announcement is part of ongoing efforts to simplify travel for Indian nationals. Back in February 2023, Emirates Airlines, in collaboration with VFS Global, launched a pre-approved visa-on-arrival service for Indian passport holders. "We’ve partnered with VFS Global to introduce a pre-approved visa on arrival facility for Indian passport holders who have booked their travel with us. The new process will help customers skip queues when arriving in Dubai," they said in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
Expanding visa options for Indian travellers
In the same month, Dubai introduced a five-year multiple-entry visa for Indian nationals. This was aimed at enhancing business, tourism, and economic ties between India and the UAE.
“The UAE has always been a top international destination for Indians, particularly for Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE). With these improved visa conditions, we expect to see more Indians travelling for 'Bleisure' (business and leisure),” added Pitti.
He also noted that this development would likely have a positive impact on both the Indian travel industry and the wider economy.
UAE remains a top destination for Indians
India is still one of Dubai's main tourism destinations. With 2.46 million overnight stays in 2023, the city saw a 25% rise in Indian tourists over pre-pandemic levels. According to a February 2023 report from Dubai's department of economics and tourism, this increase strengthened India's status as the city-state's top tourist destination.
