The cancellation of a visa to the UAE is a long-awaited gift for many Russians. Of course, this is far from the most affordable country for tourism, but, nevertheless, hundreds of thousands of Russians annually purchase tickets for flights and tours to this country. At first glance, lifting the visa regime between our countries will reduce travel costs, and therefore increase tourist traffic, and would contribute to the development of business contacts and educational programs. So, let’s try to figure out whether it is possible to cancel visas for Russians to the United Arab Emirates, what this will give and whether there is now a free visa to the UAE.

Is the UAE visa canceled and is there a free visa?

It’s worth saying right away that the appearance of a free visa and the complete abolition of visas in the UAE are not the same thing. Indeed, on February 29, 2017, the Prime Minister of the UAE signed a document giving Russians the opportunity to obtain a single-entry tourist visa at the airport upon arrival. But we are only talking about a tourist visa valid for 30 days from the date of receipt. It can be extended once for another month, after which you will inevitably have to leave the country. If you need a multiple or longer permit, you will have to apply for it in the standard manner.

As for the abolition of the visa regime, there is no reason to expect it in the near future. The Russian side has demonstrated its readiness to discuss this problem and negotiate to further improve relations, however, it is a stretch to consider the UAE a priority destination for Russian business, and tourists will be satisfied with the concessions already provided. It seems that the response of the Russian authorities is more a gesture of politeness than a real intention for the near future.

Attention! So, the opportunity to holiday in the UAE without a visa exists, but the visa regime between our countries has been preserved.

Please note that the country's authorities are wary of foreign women under the age of 30. Traveling unaccompanied by men in this country is considered not the best solution, and foreign women in this situation are considered potential illegal immigrants.

Free visa effect

To determine the effect of visa abolition, you need to understand that the UAE is a country with a small population of 350 thousand people and very few guests from it come to Russia, especially taking into account the traditional ban on independent travel for women. Most of these visits are of a business nature, and domestic Russian tourism is not in great demand among residents of this state. This means that even if the visa regime is abolished for the Russian tourism market, no changes can be expected. The question remains how a free visa will affect the frequency of Russians traveling to the UAE.

The cost of even a short-term tourist visa to the UAE for a family of 3 to 4 people is close to $300. The abolition of entry permits will save these amounts, but a trip to the emirates itself is not a budget holiday at all. Of course, the level of service here is at the highest level, and the sea is crystal clear, but competition in the beach holiday market is returning to its previous high level. And it’s not just about the opening of budget Turkish and Egyptian routes. The luxury hotels of Dubai successfully compete with the secluded bungalows of the Dominican Republic, the excellent service of Hainan and Goa, which is already loved by wealthy Russians. Perhaps the tourist flow will increase slightly, but not due to a decrease in costs, but due to the lack of fuss and fuss associated with this process.

Free visa process

The process of obtaining a visa upon arrival is more than simple. The easiest way to obtain a visa is for adult Russians with a birth mark in the Russian Federation, the USA or European countries. All you have to do is fly to the airport and have a passport, and you will be stamped upon arrival. The passport must be valid for another six months after leaving the country.

The situation with minors traveling is a little more complicated.

Attention! All minor tourists, regardless of age, must have their own passport. Having your parents included in your documents will not allow you to enter the UAE.

If a child is traveling with both parents and all seven have the same last name, then a foreign passport will also be sufficient. If the surnames are still different, you will have to stock up on the child’s birth certificate and translate it into English in advance. There is no need to certify the translation.
But there are cases when the child is accompanied by third parties. This is also possible. Then the package of documents will be larger:

  1. original birth certificate;
  2. translation of the birth certificate into English certified by a notary;
  3. parental permission to remove the child.
  4. The consent of divorced spouses is required. Exceptions:
  • death of a parent;
  • recognition as deceased by the court;
  • recognition in court of an unknown absence;
  • deprivation of parental rights.

Any of the listed facts must be documented, and the document itself must be translated into English.

If your passport contains a birth stamp in Arab countries, have a birth certificate, and natives of the Middle East will need to have it translated into English or Arabic.

There is no consular fee - the visa is free and can be extended for another 30 days.

Extension of a visa issued at the airport

Those wishing to enjoy Arab hospitality for more than a month can extend their visa. To do this, you need to find a representative office of the UAE migration service in the emirate where the tourist is staying. It runs a typing center and go through a simple procedure:

  1. fill out an application for renewal;
  2. indicate your personal number. It will be issued when you apply for your first visa;
  3. pay the fee, it varies from 560 AED to 620 AED across the emirates.

Remember, you can only extend a visa that has not yet expired. The visa is issued only for a single entry, but the country's authorities do not place restrictions on the period between issuing a new visa. This means that after flying out of the country for a day, you can return and get a new visa under the same conditions at the airport.

Check at Dubai airport

Dubai Airport is one of the world's most famous tourist centers. Every day it receives hundreds of thousands of passengers on flights from various destinations. In the face of a growing terrorist threat, the country's authorities cannot help but worry about screening guests from all over the world. Along with dogs, dog handlers and metal detectors, random identity checks of passengers are used here. To do this, an iris scanning procedure is performed. This procedure is completely safe and painless, you should not refuse it, it will not cause any harm. This is just a manifestation of concern for the safety of passengers.