UAE Cabinet approves day visas for all nationalities to boost tourism numbers

The UAE Cabinet has given the green light for preparations to begin on a general policy to grant entry visas to transit passengers - across all UAE airports - who wish to visit the country's landmarks and tourist attractions.

The new policy aims to enhance transit visa procedures to enable stopover passengers to enjoy a day out in the country, boosting the tourism industry, state news agency Wam reported.

The cabinet formed a working group, led by the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship, to prepare the new policy considering the possible positive effects it will have on the tourism sector and the economy in general.

It said 70 per cent of the total passengers who passed through the UAE's airports in 2017 were in transit.

The new policy will list visa fees and mechanisms for increasing the number of stop-over visitors, as well as ways to promote the country's tourism attractions.

The National