This schemed launches every year between 15th July to 15th September targeting children under 18, will grant them tourist visa. However, they need to accompany their parent. The Federal Authority for Identity & Citizenship has announced launch of this scheme from Monday onwards, in June this year.

This announcement has been made keeping in mind last year’s cabinet decision made in June, stipulating waiver for children under 18, from 15th July to 15th September, every year.

But the condition is that children under 18 need to be accompanied by at least one parent visiting the UAE on tourist visa, be it long or short term visa and irrespective of the visa’s validity.

Tourists eager make a trip to the UAE this summer were beckoned by the authority to benefit from the waiver, thereby saving precious money. Tourists were also encouraged to make UAE their favorite tourist destination.

Tourist visa is issued by the authority, namely of two types, viz. 30 days short term visa for single entry at Dh200, extendable twice each time for 30 days and 90 days long term visa, extendable twice each time for 30 days at Dh550. Extension made every time involves a fee of Dh600.

Family friendly destinations

Such facilities provided are expected to promote UAE and enhance its global competitiveness as being a leading and attractive tourist destination inviting visitors and families from across the globe to get to know and experience its rich culture, heritage, visit the beaches and entertainment, including world class hotel and hospitality services.

It was on 19th June that the scheme got announced initially. Most UAE based travel agencies during that time were not aware about the government initiatives taken and hence, had declined many enquiries out of ignorance.

A representative from Abu Dhabi’s Cozmo in a recent interview with the Gulf News organized in June had stated that they were not aware of the launch of tourist visa charge waiver. Hence, all customers were required to make payments for all the months. Also, they also claimed of not receiving any such official instruction or information from the immigration department.

Several Tourism agencies within the capital including Greenline Travel & Tourism, Make My Tour and Musafir.Com claimed of not having derived any such information from the immigration officials.

But other agencies had started to issue free visas to those in the under 18 segment, as they were in receipt of the communiqué last year. Thus, they simply accused those agencies of pleading unawareness and ignorance, just to extort money from the tourists.

The Managing Director, Tarun Soni of Abu Dhabi based Soni Travels stated that since the previous year, they had been practicing the Under 18 visa charge waiver and also had processed several applications. Numerous families had already benefitted from this scheme and had visited the UAE without requiring to pay their child’s visa fees.

The child’s tourist visa fee generally starts at Dh350.

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