Dubai introduces 5-year multiple-entry visa for Indians; 5 things to know

Dubai introduces 5-year multiple-entry visa for Indians

Dubai has introduced a five-year multiple-entry visa for Indians to foster economic, tourism and business ties.

In 2023, the city-state welcomed 2.46 million overnight visitors from India, a 25 percent increase from the pre-pandemic era. This made India the number one source market, Dubai's department of economy and tourism said on February 22.

Key points of the visa programme:

Five-year multiple-entry visa: Dubai has introduced a five-year multiple-entry visa to foster sustained economic collaborations and encourage tourism and business ties between India and Dubai. The visa will be issued within two-five working days upon receiving and accepting the service request, allowing the holder to stay in the country for 90 days, extendable once for a similar period, with a total stay not exceeding 180 days in one year

Exceptional growth: India continues to be the number one source market for Dubai, with an exceptional 34 per cent year-on-year growth in 2023. The emirate hosted 2.46 million tourists from India in 2023 compared to 1.84 million in the year-ago period and 1.97 million in 2019.

Operational flexibility: The multiple-entry visa provides operational flexibility for business engagements, leisure travel, and seamless connectivity. Tourists can leverage multiple entries and exits, making it easier to travel between India and Dubai.

Record-breaking performance: The inbound visitation from India in 2023 contributed to a record-breaking performance by Dubai's tourism sector. The city welcomed 17.15 million international overnight visitors in 2023, a 19.4 per cent growth over the 14.36 million tourist arrivals in 2022.

Economic collaboration: The five-year multiple-entry visa is expected to open doors to a longer and more enriching experience for Indian tourists and provide a platform for increased economic collaboration between India and Dubai.

The visa provides operational flexibility and is expected to further amplify awareness about Dubai's diverse offerings, multicultural setting, and abundance of hotels and attractions, making it the top travel choice for Indian tourists.

(With agency inputs)