The recent changes introduced in UAE's visa laws aimed at fighting violations and tightening controls on visa issuance, will not have an adverse effect on tourism, the country's visa regulatory body has said.
The new amendments to tourist visa regulations, which are part of the stricter visa regime to come into force from August this year are aimed at combating visa trading and would not impact tourism, Brigadier Nasser Awadh Al Minhali, Director Gen of Abu Dhabi Naturalisation and Residency said.
"Restricting the issuance of tourist (visit) visas for only licensed tourism operators would give them the opportunity to grow and receive all tourists who were coming to the country via unspecialized bodies or individuals," he told the official Emirates news agency.
As per the new law, all visitors to the UAE will be required to have health insurance once the new visit visa rules are enforced from August 1, said a senior official.
Also, a Dh 1,000 (Rs 11,600) deposit will be collected by the Naturalisation and Residency Department before issuance of any type of visit visa. This will be refunded once a visitor exits the country.
