Authorities at the Dubai airport have recently enforced more stringent rules pertaining to guest admission requirements, including requiring evidence of a return ticket and a minimum spending amount.
At least Dh3,000 in cash or credit, as well as a return ticket home, are now being sought by immigration officers to prove that passengers have.
Although not entirely new, the purpose of these regulations is to discourage job searchers with illegitimate intents and stop the abuse of tourist visas for prolonged stays.
Travelers may have been required to produce documents in certain cases, according to reports, although the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) has not formally commented on the heightened inspections.
It is also necessary for travelers to be ready to provide a hotel reservation or a relative’s address, as per UAE immigration regulations. It is imperative that travelers adhere to these regulations, which include having enough cash, a return ticket, and documentation of residency if lodging with family.
Reports have surfaced of incidents in which travelers were refused entrance or experienced delays because they did not match the requirements for admission.
Several tourists, including Aju, who was traveling for the first time, had difficulties at the Dubai airport when they were unable to produce the necessary documentation. As a result, they had to spend more time in the terminal until they could make arrangements for their departure.
Those who could produce the required papers were granted admission by UAE immigration officers, while others were sent away. The immigration regulations of the United Arab Emirates place emphasis on the fact that visitation visas are only intended for tourism and not for employment. For this reason, a unique jobseeker’s visa has been developed; it requires sponsorship and certain paperwork.
