UAE to issue tourist visas from Aug 30

Jeddah: The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has opened applications for tourist visas from all countries starting Monday, August 30

As per the new UAE travel guidelines, tourists will need to be vaccinated with one of the Covid-19 vaccine shots approved by the World Health Organization (WHO). 

The decision applies to citizens of all countries, including those arriving from previously banned nations. Besides, passengers arriving on tourist visas must take a mandatory rapid PCR test at the airport on arrival. The passengers also need to register their vaccination status on the government’s health app.

Travellers wishing to avail the benefits provided to those vaccinated in the UAE can



register their vaccination via the ICA platform or Al Hosn application.

However, all the rules for unvaccinated passengers, including exempted categories, remain in place, as per the new UAE travel guideline. Since scrapping arrivals from countries including India, Pakistan, and Nigeria, the UAE has been gradually easing rules on travel. The UAE and other Gulf nations are gradually allowing expatriates to return to their countries.

Prior to covid-19, the UAE welcomed over 20 lakh Indian tourists, which is highest among overall tourists to the country. On an average, some hundreds of people from Telangana State travel to the UAE every day on tourist visas.