Saturday 16 / November / 2024
Muscat: Even as the United Arab Emirates (UAE) made e-visa mandatory from Friday for expats travelling from the Gulf Cooperation Council countries to Dubai, travel agents, airlines and the public are hoping that the process will be quick and prompt.
Mohammed Mubarak Al Shikely, vice-president, Marketing, Oman Air, is not surprised as he says e-transactions have become a global trend. “So knowing Dubai, I think this should work out faster, as they normally do things for betterment,” he told the Times of Oman on the sidelines of Arabian Travel Market, which concluded in Dubai on Thursday.
He also said applying for an e-visa should make it easier for people as, “you can apply for your e-visa from your home and make things (happen) faster when you land in Dubai. This is simply because online is the way forward.”
From April 29, expats in the GCC, with exceptions of certain nationalities, will be required to apply for a visa online before they travel to the UAE.
Travel agents, however, feel that the traffic to Dubai may drop initially because of the e-visa requirement. “People are still not used to it. So it will take some time before they adapt to this new policy,” said a travel agent in Oman.
“I think this will affect last minute plans, as a lot of people make plans at the last minute to travel to UAE,” he said.
However, there are expats, such as Satish K, who are very happy with the decision. “I was rejected twice at the border and granted entry thrice to Dubai. Now, if I am granted an e-visa, I am sure I will able to enter the UAE,” he stated.
