New Delhi:
The United Arab Emirates has announced relaxation for more categories of visa for Indians on arrival. The UAE Ambassador to India, Mohammed Albanna, said that the government will now grant visas on arrival to Indians who hold a valid residence visa of the United Kingdom and the European Union.
However, the move will encourage more tourists in the country as the UAE is seen as a major transit hub for Indian travelling from India to the US and Europe.
The US Border Immigration has also set up a facility in UAE allowing foreigners travelling to the US complete all formalities in UAE itself.
These visa holders have been added to earlier decision to grant visa on arrival to Indians whose passports contain a valid US visa or have a Green Card.
Ambassador Albania said the decision was taken by the UAE Cabinet on Wednesday and is in pursuance of agreements signed to facilitate people to people contacts during the visit of Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to India last year.Diplomats and government officials are issued visa at no cost as per existing protocols.
The relationship between the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and India is "strengthening further" and a major step in that direction is the relaxation of visa rules by the Gulf country for Indian nationals, its envoy said. Ambassador of the UAE to India Ahmed Albanna said the decision of the "UAE cabinet to grant visa-on-arrival to Indian passport holders with residence visa from the UK and the European Union" would be a key facilitator of people-to- people bilateral ties.
The first step towards having a simplified visa process was the signing of an MoU between India and the UAE on mutualexemption of entry visa requirements to the holders of diplomatic, special and official passports.
"The agreement signed during the second visit of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, as Chief Guest for India's Republic Day celebrations this year, allows holders of diplomatic, special and official passports visa free travel between the two countries," Albanna said in a statement issued by the UAE Embassy.
Earlier this year, the UAE government also had announced that Indian passport holders with a valid American visa or aGreen Card, will be eligible to obtain a UAE visa on arrival, he said. Hopefully, there would be more measures in days to come to further improve the long-term strategic partnership between the two countries, the envoy said.
With PTI Input
