Dubai’s recent tightening of tourist visa rules has raised rejection rates from 1-2% to 5-6%.
These stricter regulations are affecting travelers worldwide, as the updated criteria make visa approval more challenging.
According to TravelBiz, Dubai’s updated visa policy, designed to enhance documentation and verification procedures, has caused daily rejection rates to climb from 1-2% to 5-6%, impacting travelers globally.
Reports indicate that Dubai’s updated tourist visa rules now require travelers to provide more detailed documentation, making the process more rigorous than before.
Key changes include:
Confirmed return travel: Applicants must submit proof of a booked return ticket.
Hotel booking documents: Visa applications must include hotel reservations, complete with QR codes, alongside return tickets for approval.
These stricter requirements aim to ensure compliance but have led to increased rejection rates and delays.
Accommodation with relatives: Travelers staying with family or friends must provide proof of accommodation from their hosts.
Financial resources: Applicants must demonstrate sufficient funds by submitting bank statements showing a minimum balance of AED 5,000 (approximately ₹1.14 lakh) for a two-month visa or AED 3,000 for a three-month visa.
Before now, these documents were only needed if requested by airport authorities. Now, they are mandatory during the visa application process, making the requirements more stringent.
The stricter regulations have led to frustration and uncertainty among travelers, with many facing unexpected financial losses. Rejected visa applications have left travelers unable to recover non-refundable expenses for flight tickets and hotel bookings.
Travel agents report a rise in rejection rates, even for well-prepared applications.
Some families with complete and accurate documentation have been denied visas, incurring losses of ₹34,000 or more due to non-refundable visa fees, flight cancellations, and accommodation bookings.
Industry experts have raised concerns about Dubai’s new visa policies, highlighting the increased complexity and unpredictability of the application process. Even experienced travelers and those with well-prepared applications now face a higher risk of rejection.
A minor error or missing document can lead to denial, prompting travelers to exercise greater caution when applying.
In July, the United Arab Emirates government officially lifted the visa restrictions on Nigerians, allowing them to apply for visas without any further delays or limitations.
The UAE had imposed the visa ban on Nigeria nearly two years ago in response to various diplomatic disputes.
Additionally, Dubai’s Emirates Airline suspended flights to Nigeria after the Central Bank of Nigeria was unable to remit approximately $85 million in revenue to the UAE.
However, in July, the UAE lifted the visa restrictions on Nigerians, signaling a resolution of these issues.
