UAE bans non-graduate Asian tourists
Strange move and the reasoning to me is erroneous.
Perhaps Qatar will follow suit (For LP)
Officials in the United Arab Emirates have imposed a ban on non-graduates from Asia visiting the state as tourists.
Tourists from Asian countries will no longer be able to apply for tourist visas to thwart an influx of illegal immigrants.
Electricians, pipe fitters, masons, farmers, drivers, tailors and cleaners from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and the Philippines are now banned from obtaining a tourist visa.
The new measure sets a university degree as a prerequisite to obtain a visa, the official said.
Source: Telegraph
"The Federal Residency Department... has decided to adopt stricter regimes for tourist, visit and conference visas to curb the influx of blue-collar workers from many labour exporting countries," said the official.
"This would help significantly reduce the risk that individuals engaged in organised crime or the trafficking of persons could gain entry to the country," he said.
Illegals are convenient for many simply because they are cheap labor.
Lol seriously?
OK I may understand it may do good for the country, but why Asians and not all nationalities!
Yes I think it certainly could be a reason.
Segmund...the reason might be all the "tourists" coming on "visit visa" looking for jobs.
Once they got one, they are upset for getting a bad deal...which is inevitable, as they went about it the wrong/illegal way.
That's why. As usual, some people dig the grave for all others.
I believe a move such as this does not really bode well for a free society that UAE is purportedly aspiring to become. Discrimination being already rampant everywhere in the world has been added now a new dimension with this promulgation. It is imperative that the country reconsider and possibly revoke this law.
Having said that, I cannot help reflecting that there must have been some solid grounds upon which this decision was taken. It would be worthwhile for the UAE government to explain the reasons behind this change of policy so as to allow everyone to regard the issue in a clearer light.
Great .. Get applying people :O)
There's no such law for now.
Asians include China, Russia, Middle East also or just Pakistan/India and others?
Might be a silly law, discriminatory but at the end of the day "The Federal Residency Department... has decided to adopt stricter regimes for tourist, visit and conference visas to curb the influx of blue-collar workers from many labour exporting countries.This would help significantly reduce the risk that individuals engaged in organised crime or the trafficking of persons could gain entry to the country," he said.Tourist visas are usually arranged through hotels or airlines and travel agents.
A better solution is to make an application from your home country to the UAE embassy, fill in the application forms and let the Immigration officer decides whether to grant the visa or not. Applicants will provide letter of invitation from family members or friends who are residents in UAE, family members or hotel pays a bond of say QR20,000 which is refunded after the visitor leaves, visitors to provide a letter from their employer, 6 months salary certificate and proof of having $2000 to spend in UAE during period of visit, etc, etc,
Now, I hear you say, " This will take ages!" Very true.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/unitedarabemirates/9550668/UAE-bans-non-graduate-Asian-tourists.html
http://www.millenniumpost.in/NewsContent.aspx?NID=8336
Perhaps they realised their mistake and did a u turn :O)
heres the link
http://gulfbusiness.com/2012/09/uae-denies-tourist-visa-ban-for-non-graduates/
Brit this news was denied by officials from Dubai
Anway not much jobs in UAE as markets are down hence no real effect on non-graduates.
Having lived in Dubai for some years I have known that there such rules are brought in and withdrawn quite frequently. Whenever they would notice that the rules were hurting them, they would soon withdraw them. But I agree, this one is the silliest of such rules.
So, what they will get are Westerners without brain. If that's what they want, voila.
Yeah, brit, but the Western tourists have heard too many stories about British subjects being subjected to court for loving each other too much. I don't think a Westerner with brain will visit the UAE. For what?
since most of them will take on the jobs of the asians if that happens
The simple fact is that those willing to come will go out and buy false degrees :O(
This also shows that after the downturn, when the UAE opened it's doors to all, it is now reverting back to focusing on mainly Western / European tourism.
Oh, it's only Asians. What a disgrace, what a racial discrimination. God hopefully will punish these lawmakers!
Whatever, it's their country, and they will have to bear the consequences.
And, did they also consider that holders of a degree would ask for a much higher salary?
This is cool. I support that only holders of a Phd or professors are allowed as tourists everywhere in the world! Imagine, Bill Gates wants to come to the UAE, they'll have to reject him. What an IDIOTIC law!!
I thought most illegal migrants from Pakistan and India entered the country via Oman. I happened to know one such migrant who had taken a boat-run from Pakistan to Oman and finally crossed over to UAE through the deserts.