Tag Archives: UAE

SriLankan Airlines and flydubai, the Dubai-based carrier, have announced today an interline agreement commencing from 09 September 2024, introducing more travel opportunities between Sri Lanka, the UAE and beyond on select routes on the carriers’ networks. This interline agreement will enable passengers travelling with SriLankan Airlines to seamlessly connect via Dubai’s aviation hub to more than 30 destinations that flydubai operates to in Africa, Central Asia, Central and Southeast Europe as well as the Middle East. This includes unique holiday destinations such as Bucharest, Istanbul, Krakow, Mombasa, Naples, Sofia, Tashkent and Zanzibar. In addition, the interline will offer flydubai passengers’ access to 16 destinations on SriLankan’s robust network spanning Southern and East Asia, the Middle East and Australia – including Melbourne, Seoul, Singapore and Tokyo. “We are excited to partner with flydubai to provide our passengers seamless connections and greater convenience. This partnership reinforces our strategy to broaden our network and global reach, presenting customers with more travel choices and flexibility. We look forward to collaborating with flydubai and welcoming their passengers aboard our flights to experience an authentic SriLankan journey,” said Richard Nuttall, Chief Executive Officer of SriLankan Airlines. SriLankan Airlines and flydubai are committed to delivering convenient and reliable travel options for their valued customers. Passengers can expect the signature hospitality and onboard services that both airlines are renowned for when travelling with SriLankan and flydubai. Commenting on the interline agreement, Ghaith Al Ghaith, Chief Executive Officer at flydubai, said, “we’re excited about our new interline agreement with SriLankan Airlines that will further strengthen trade and tourism relations between the UAE and Sri Lanka. Since the start of operations to Sri Lanka in 2010, we have seen consistent …

A visa-on-arrival facility is available to citizens of Japan, South Korea, and the UAE if they are visiting India for tourism, business, conference, and medical purposes. This visa is valid for 60 days with the flexibility of double entry, said MOT. However, it is available only at 6 designated airports: Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Mumbai.

Immigration authorities in the UAE have intensified inspection and screening at the country’s airports to detect individuals arriving on a visit visa to seek employment. Now, all passengers arriving on visit or tourist visas will undergo strict profiling, including verification of funds and other information. Visitors engaging in tourist activities should provide information on their hotel accommodations, return tickets, and available funds.

Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy, UAE announces that the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) has a new unified tourist visa called “GCC Grand Tours,” which would allow travellers to visit all six Gulf countries and stay for over 30 days. This initiative aims to boost tourism and make travel across the GCC region more convenient. by simplifying travel across Gulf countries, with an estimated 128.7 million visitors by 2030.

According to tourism statistics report by MOT, Indian departures during January-June 2023 were 1,32,08,837. 42% of this travel was for leisure and holidays with the percentage share of the top 5 source countries being UAE, Saudai Arabia, USA, Thailand and Singapore.   

Naveen Patnaik, Chief Minister, Odisha, has announced that direct flights will be operated between Bhubaneswar to UAE very soon. Patnaik made this announcement while addressing the diaspora from Odisha in Dubai recently. Odisha government has already proceeded with a viability gap funding (VGF) plan for direct flight services between Dubai and Bhubaneswar.

In a Twitter post, Air India has informed that the passengers travelling to the UAE from India are requested to report at the airport at least 6 hours prior to the departure. As per the entry requirement of the UAE, a rapid PCR test will be conducted for every passenger at the respective Indian departure airport. The test counters will start 4 hours before the departure time and would close 2 hours prior to departure.

UAE authorities recognised and approved vaccinations done in India. Anil Punjabi, Chairman (East), Travel Agents’ Federation of India (TAFI) has revealed, “UAE’s National Emergency & Crisis Management Authority has informed that passengers who have taken both doses of either Covishield or Covaxin in India to fly back if they have residency permits. The only requirement is that they should have completed the vaccination at least 14 days prior to travel.” Adding that the move will help hundreds of people who were stranded in India since March.

Emirates has extended its suspension of passenger flights from India up to June 14, 2021. Furthermore, passengers who have transited through India in the last 14 days will not be accepted to travel from any other point to the UAE. However, UAE nationals, holders of UAE Golden Visas and members of diplomatic missions who comply with COVID-19 protocols will be exempt.

UAE cabinet chaired by HH Sheikh Mohammed, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai announced that UAE has approved a multiple-entry tourist visa for all nationalities of all countries to strengthen the UAE’s status as a global economic capital. The cabinet also adopted a new remote work visa that enables employees from all over the world to live and work remotely for one year from the UAE even if their companies are based in another country. The first-of-its-kind visa is aimed at establishing the UAE as a major ‘global tourism destination’.