Indian media outlet The Economic Times on 18 July 2026 devoted prominent coverage to Dubai’s revised relatives-and-friends visit-visa scheme, translating GDRFA rules into practical guidance for one of the UAE’s largest expatriate communities. The article highlights the three salary tiers (AED 4,000 / 8,000 / 15,000) and provides a step-by-step checklist of documents—Emirates ID, passport copies, proof of accommodation, and relationship certificates—aimed at would-be sponsors preparing files from overseas. Visa-fee tables are broken down in Indian rupees and compared with previous costs, giving families a clear budgeting picture. The Economic Times stresses that most applications are cleared in 48 hours and that successful applicants must enter the UAE within 60 days, a deadline frequently missed by first-time travellers. The report also notes that GDRFA issued nearly 30,000 of these visas in the first half of 2026, signalling capacity for significantly more traffic as summer holidays peak. For Indian corporates with rotator staff in the Gulf, the clarification reduces uncertainty around bringing dependants for short visits, while diaspora families gain a structured pathway to combine tourism with family reunions. The piece underscores the UAE’s strategy of broadcasting immigration changes through foreign media to maintain its competitive edge in talent attraction. Logistics teams are advised to align ticketing windows with the 60-day entry rule and to budget for refundable security deposits, which can be reclaimed once visitors depart and their exit is registered in the ICP system.
Source: The Economic Times
