New visa rules for Indians traveling to Dubai have raised concerns, especially for those planning to stay with family. Applicants are now required to provide their host’s rental agreement, Emirates ID, residence visa copy, and contact details as part of the application. These changes come just as the Dubai Shopping Festival, a popular event for Indian tourists, begins on December 8 and runs through January 14.
Under the new regulations, Indian tourists must also provide hotel booking confirmations and return ticket details. However, the additional paperwork required for those staying with family members has created significant challenges.
Nikhil Thakurdas, director of Odyssey Tours and Travels, explained in an interview with TOI, “While asking for hotel bookings and return tickets is understandable, the paperwork for staying with relatives is quite a hassle. Requesting documents like rental agreements and proof of residence from family can feel awkward. As a result, some travelers may opt for hotel stays, which could significantly increase their costs. their holiday expenses.”
The steep cost of hotels in Dubai, ranging from ₹20,000 to ₹1 lakh per night, frequently prompts visitors to stay with family members instead. However, travel agencies have noted that many hosts are reluctant to provide sensitive documents, such as Emirates IDs, for the visa process.
“Hosts are often unwilling to share sensitive documents, such as their Emirates ID, even in a scanned format,” stated Santosh Gupta, owner of Shree Vinayak.
“These updated requirements are leading many people who planned to visit Dubai and stay with family to rethink their travel plans.” Christmas travel from India to Dubai may decrease this year due to the added complications. I have clients who regularly visit family in Dubai, but they are now rethinking their plans because of the inconvenience of providing these additional documents for their visa applications.”
The new regulations have made travel planning more challenging. “These rules are still new, and there’s a lot of confusion,” said Nilesh Bhansali, owner of Devam Tours and Travels. “People staying with relatives or friends are struggling the most, as it’s becoming harder to gather the required documents. We’re awaiting further clarification on these rules.”
Abhishek Khanna, a potential traveler, spoke about the new rules, saying, “It was always easy to visit Dubai before. Now, I have to ask my aunt for personal details like her Emirates ID and rental agreement, which feels like an invasion of privacy.”
It’s awkward to make such requests.” these documents, especially when they weren’t necessary before. We were planning to visit Dubai next month, but this added inconvenience is causing us to rethink our travel plans. We may choose a different destination in Asia instead.”
Travelers staying in hotels are also facing stricter documentation requirements, including bank statements and copies of their PAN cards. “Although it’s inconvenient, Zelam Chaubal, director of Kesari Tours, noted, ‘Each country has its own set of rules.'” Although these changes may be inconvenient, travelers will adapt to them and continue to visit Dubai, as it remains a popular destination.”
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