Dubai unveils 5-year visa for Indians, capitalising on 2023's record 2.46 million visitors
Dubai has implemented a five-year multiple-entry visa to enhance travel between India and Dubai, emphasising its dedication to promote enduring economic partnerships and fostering tourism and business connections. This move guarantees that the visa, issued within two to five working days upon receipt and acceptance of the service request, permits the holder to remain in the country for 90 days, extendable once for an equivalent duration, with the total stay not surpassing 180 days in a year. This initiative enables tourists to take advantage of multiple entries and exits, offering operational flexibility for business commitments, leisure trips, and smooth connectivity.
Also read: The rise of Bleisure travel: Blending business with leisure
As per the most recent information from the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), Dubai welcomed 2.46 million overnight visitors from India from January to December 2023. This reflects a notable rise from the 1.84 million tourists in 2022, exceeding the pre-pandemic statistic of 1.97 million visitors in 2019.
DET highlights that this ‘significant’ undertaking enables tourists to take advantage of multiple entries and exits, offering operational flexibility for both business commitments and leisure travel.
Furthermore, Bader Ali Habib, the regional head of proximity markets at DET, emphasised Dubai’s appreciation for its enduring partnership with India. He underscored the exceptional inbound visitation from the Indian market in 2023, which significantly contributed to a record-breaking performance in Dubai’s tourism sector.
India remains a pivotal market for Dubai, continuing to play a crucial role in realising the objectives of the D33 Agenda. This further solidifies Dubai’s standing as a hub for business, investment, and tourism. The introduction of the five-year multiple-entry visa initiative is viewed as a strategic measure to strengthen and deepen the already existing ties between Dubai and India.
