Overseas Filipinos living here in the United Arab Emirates may soon find it easier to reunite with their family members in the coming months with the UAE Cabinet’s announcement of the new multiple entry tourist visa valid for five years applicable for all nationalities.
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai approved the increased duration of the new visa to further boost the tourism economy of the country that has seen a rise in the number of visitors, particularly for Filipinos that marked double-digit growths during the first nine months of 2019 in the number of visitors to 29% or a total of 352,000 according to data from Dubai Tourism.
No further details have been released yet regarding visa application fees but the UAE Cabinet assured that the new visa will be applicable for all nationalities.
Reuniting families
Many Filipino parents as well as breadwinners now look forward as to how this new visa will enable them to see their family more frequently, as seen in the social media pages of The Filipino Times.
Lito Oclarit, who works as a crane operator for over 10 years in the country said that this would be the perfect opportunity for him and his wife to apply the visa for their children. “Para sa family, mas madali silang madadala dito dahilbukod sa expansion ng duration ng visa, multiple entry to so pwedeng in and out ang mga bata. So pag may okasyon na mas magandang dalhin sila dito o kapag out of school sila, at least makakasama naming mag-asawa ang aming mga anak.”
For Jenny Ann Maghari, a nurse and breadwinner of her family working for three years, she said that this would give her more opportunities to fly her parents and siblings here to enjoy the beauty of the country instead of having to go on leave. “Ito talaga pinaplano ko for the coming years – kung madadala ko sila dito, mas madali na para sa akin ang makipagbonding sa pamilya ko. Mahirap kasi sa aking mag leave dahil sa higpit ng schedule ko bilang nurse lalo na pag madami ang pasyente. Ang importante dito ay yung oras at ginhawa para makasama ang pamilya.”
H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid affirms that the new tourist visa is just the beginning of a string of new initiatives that the country will witness this 2020 in their continuous drive towards progress in the Year of Preparation. “The year 2020 leaves behind 50 years of achievements, and welcomes 50 years of perseverance and hard work in the service of the nation and its citizens. We want 2020 to be a year of development, growth and competition with leading countries in economy, competitiveness and wellbeing.”
