Indian tourists can take a quick holiday in the UAE by using the visa-on-arrival option, which has now been expanded.
Those with valid tourist visas, residency permits or a green card from the US, UK and EU are eligible for a 14-day entry visa, which can be extended for a fee, according to guidelines from the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship, Customs and Ports Security (ICP).
This has now been extended, from February 13, to those with 'a valid visa, residence permit or green card' from Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand and Canada, state news agency Wam said.
Indian travellers hoping to use the facility must ensure that their applicable tourist or residency visas and passports are valid for at least six months when they enter the UAE. Eligible Indian tourists can apply for the pre-approved entry permit ahead of their trip.
How to apply for pre-approved visas
Indian passport holders eligible for the pre-approved visa on arrival can apply either through ICP or through the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs – Dubai (GDRFA-D) website, by first creating an account.
On the GDRFA-D website, select “All Services” and then “Port Services”. Click on “Issuing visa via land, seaport or airport” and you will see the option “Visa on arrival for citizens of India residing in (America, Britain, European Union countries)”. Attach necessary documents including a copy of your passport and photo to pay and complete the application. The visa processing time is 48 hours and the fee is Dh253.
If applying through ICP, use their Smart Services channel online. Select “Public Visa Services” and click on “Visa – Holders of Special Visas – Citizens of the Republic of India residing in America, Britain, EU countries 14 Days – Issue New Visa”. You will be able to start the application immediately and pay the fee of Dh250 online to get the permit within 48 hours. The process can also be done through ICP’s mobile app – UAEICP.
Emirates passengers using the scheme can apply through the airline’s website using the booking reference in the “Manage Your Booking” section. The airline announced the facility serviced by the Dubai Visa Processing Centre (DVPC) in February, offered in collaboration with VFS Global. The fee is $63 (Dh232).
You can also apply for the permit through private travel agencies, but the costs may be higher, depending on their service charges. Indian nationals who do not fall in the mentioned categories must apply for a tourist visa to visit the UAE and have legitimate return flight tickets and hotel bookings.
UAE visas for tourists
The UAE has 30-day and 90-day visas available on arrival for more than 80 nationalities. Many of these visas do not need to be pre-arranged and are stamped on arrival by immigration officers.
GCC citizens have visa-free entry into the UAE and can present their passport or national ID to immigration authorities on arrival.
Citizens of Andorra, Brunei, Hong Kong, Macau, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Mauritius, Monaco, Mongolia, Ireland, Ukraine, Uzbekistan and Vatican City will get a free 30-day visa on arrival.
A multi-entry, 90-day visa is available for citizens of other nations and territories including the European Union, UK, US, South Korea, Singapore, Seychelles, China, Colombia, Argentina and Chile.
A quick way to check if a visa on arrival is available for your passport would be to use the Visit Dubai website. On the homepage, select “Plan Your Trip” from the navigation menu and click on “Visa Guide”. There you can select your nationality and the type of visa you need (tourism, transit or work) to get details of those available and the process to apply if necessary. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs website also has a checklist to find out whether you need a pre-approved visa to travel to the UAE.
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
RACE CARD
5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 1,400m
5.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 1,200m
6pm: Arabian Triple Crown Round-1 (PA) Listed Dh230,000 1,600m
6.30pm: HH The President’s Cup (PA) Group 1 Dh2.5million 2,200m
7pm: HH The President’s Cup (TB) Listed Dh380,000 1,400m
7.30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup (PA) Handicap Dh70,000 1,200m.
Name: Brendalle Belaza
From: Crossing Rubber, Philippines
Arrived in the UAE: 2007
Favourite place in Abu Dhabi: NYUAD campus
Favourite photography style: Street photography
Favourite book: Harry Potter
A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
Kanguva
Director: Siva
Stars: Suriya, Bobby Deol, Disha Patani, Yogi Babu, Redin Kingsley
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre turbo
Power: 181hp
Torque: 230Nm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Starting price: Dh79,000
On sale: Now
