UAE grants visas on arrival for Indian citizens with UK and EU residency

Indian passport holders will be granted visa on arrival at all ports if carrying a valid EU or UK residency visa

Airline travellers wait to clear immigration control at Dubai International Airport. Robert Nickelsberg / Getty Images

The UAE Cabinet on Wednesday approved regulation for Indian passport holders with EU or UK residency visas to recieve entry visas on arrival to the UAE.

Chaired by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, the cabinet also approved VAT and excise tax regulations and put a structure in place for community service.

As of May 1 this year, Indian passport holders with a valid American visa or a Green Card were granted UAE visa on arrival at all ports.

The decision comes as a India-UAE Partnership Summit was announced in a bid to encourage Emiratis to invest in medium-sized projects.

“Today I chaired the Cabinet meeting that we started by congratulating over one million pupils in public and higher education in their new academic year,” Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid tweeted on Wednesday.

“We tell our pupils: your mission to your country is to success in this academic year and we rely on your success annually for the development of our country and our future,” he said.

During the meeting, the Cabinet introduced a community service based correctional programme, to encourage rehabilitation through social service for minor offences.

The purpose of community service will not be to punish and defame but rather to serve the country and society, teach humility and reform in a civilized way, Sheikh Mohammed said.

On VAT, the Cabinet also approved tax implementation procedures and regulations, in line with the GCC Economic Agreement.