Dubai’s General Directorate of Identity and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) on 21 July issued detailed operating rules for the UAE’s five-year multiple-entry tourist visa—news that is being keenly watched by Indian corporates that hub through Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Unlike the standard 30- or 60-day tourist permits that require local sponsorship, the self-sponsored visa offers up to 90 days per visit (extendable once) and remains valid for a full five years. Key requirements: applicants must hold a passport valid at least six months, health insurance, a confirmed onward/return ticket and bank statements showing a US$4,000 (≈₹3.8 lakh) minimum balance for the preceding six months. Applications can be filed on GDRFA smart portals, Amer service centres or authorised typing offices, with a total fee of AED 3,713 (≈₹84,000) including a refundable security deposit. Why businesses care: 1) Indian consultancies and project managers can now shuttle teams for MENA engagements without repeated paperwork. 2) Family-owned exporters in Gujarat and Kerala, who make frequent short hops to monitor re-exports via Jebel Ali, gain a predictable entry channel. 3) HR mobility budgets could fall as employees avoid costly express visas. Compliance watch-outs: Visa holders may not exceed 180 cumulative days in the UAE within any calendar year; overstays attract penalties of AED 50 per day plus service charges. Travellers must track their entry/exit records through the GDRFA movement-report service to avoid inadvertent breaches. The UAE maintains the right to revoke the permit for any immigration offence, and airline check-in systems are being updated to verify remaining day-allowance automatically. Bigger picture: The five-year visa complements Dubai’s push for 40 million visitors by 2030 and gives the emirate an edge over Doha and Riyadh in the race for repeat Indian traffic. For New Delhi, easier access supports outbound tourism, but officials will watch revenue leakage from India’s own airports and duty-free ecosystem.
Source: The Economic Times
