1 year ago
More Indian nationals will now be able to get visas on arrival in the UAE, the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship, Customs and Ports Security (ICP) announced on Thursday. Now, Indian nationals who hold tourist visas to the UK and EU countries will be able to get a visa-on-arrival. Previously, this was available only to those who hold residence or tourist visas to the US, as well as those with residencies in the UK and EU. This is provided that the applicant’s visa and passport are valid for at least six months. Additionally, the authority said a 60-day visa can now be issued for Dh250 to these eligible Indian travellers. The authority also announced an updated fee schedule for services. The visa issuance fee for a 14-day entry visa for Indian nationals and their family members — who also hold visas, residencies, or green cards from the US, EU countries, or the UK — is set at Dh100. The fee for extending this visa by an additional 14 days is Dh250. The 60-day visa can be issued for Dh250. Maj-Gen Suhail Saeed Al Khaili, director-general of the ICP, said expanding this visa-on-arrival option for some Indian nationals is part […]
1 year ago
Dubai’s population, relative to many countries in the Western world, is growing at a healthy rate. However, since 2018 the graph demonstrating the emirate’s population explosion has started to get a little less steep. According to World Population Review, Dubai’s population has swelled by 300,000 over the last six years – mostly down to expat arrivals Dubai’s population, relative to many countries in the Western world, is growing at a healthy rate. However, since 2018 the graph demonstrating the emirate’s population explosion has started to get a little less steep. According to World Population Review, Dubai’s population has swelled by 300,000 over the last six years – mostly down to expat arrivals However, in the six years from 2012 to 2018, the population climbed at a much faster rate – it grew by 700,000. Again, mostly thanks to expats. This has led some reports to suggest Dubai has an expat “crisis”, with potential new citizens daunted by the high cost of living. At the same time, Qatar, a Gulf state only an hour flight away from Dubai, has seen its population growth slow too. From 2018 to 2024, the host nation of the 2022 Fifa World Cup, has seen its […]
1 year ago
Expat residents in GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) countries can now apply for a 30-day e-visa to enter the UAE, on condition their residency is valid for at least one year, the UAE Digital Government announced on Monday. According to its statement, expats residing in any of the GCC countries who wish to visit the UAE must obtain an e-visa prior to their travel. The visa permits a stay of 30 days from the date of entry, with the option to extend it for an additional 30 days. Holders of the entry permit for GCC residents will not be allowed to enter the country if their residence visa is found to be expired or cancelled. Also, the entry visa will be denied if it is discovered that the holder’s profession has changed after the issuance of the entry permit. The validity of residency in the GCC must be at least one year upon arrival at the UAE’s ports and the passport must be valid for no less than six months upon arrival in the UAE. The six GCC countries are UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and Oman. The government emphasised that obtaining an e-visa is a mandatory requirement for entry […]
1 year ago
Concern among Spaniards about immigration has surged in the past year with 57 percent of citizens believing there are now “too many” immigrants in the country, new polling shows. A recent survey by the 40dB Institute for El País and Cadena SER revealed that 75 percent of Spaniards now associate immigration with negative concepts such as insecurity, crime, and overburdened public services. The increase in concern — up by 16 points over the last year and a half — reflects a considerable shift at a time when the migrant crisis, particularly on the Canary Islands archipelago is at the forefront of public debate. A total of 41 percent of respondents described immigration as a significant concern with a growing unease particularly prevalent among Gen Z males who broadly agree with the description of Vox leader Santiago Abascal, who has described the current migration crisis as an “invasion,” and the center-right opposition leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo, who has linked immigration with crime and called for “mass deportations.” The survey reveals significant differences in opinions based on political affiliation. Among supporters of the hard-right SALF, 93.4 percent believe there are too many immigrants, with Vox supporters close behind at 86.1 percent. However, […]
1 year ago
An expatriate worker in Saudi Arabia has up to 60 days to transfer to another employer or depart the country on a final exit visa, starting from the day they stop reporting to their original job, labour authorities have said. If no procedures are taken during the specified period, the worker’s status will change to “absent from work,” and an absenteeism report against them will not be revoked, the Saudi Ministry of Human Resources added. Saudi Arabia is home to a large community of expatriate workers. Saudi authorities have mandated that employers ensure their expatriate workers with a final exit visa leave the kingdom. The Saudi General Directorate of Passports has emphasised the employer’s responsibility for following up on the expatriate’s departure once a final exit visa is issued. The employer’s responsibility is not limited to obtaining this visa. If the employer fails to ascertain the employee’s whereabouts in the kingdom after the issuance of a final exit visa, they must apply for cancellation of the visa and file an absence report with the authorities. Labour reforms In recent years, the kingdom has introduced labour reforms to make its job market more attractive and competitive. The Saudi government has recently […]
1 year ago
There will be no extension of the amnesty period which will end on October 31 and there are less than 24 days left for residency violators to get their visa status adjusted, Major General Suhail Saeed Al Khaili, Director-General of the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Port Security (ICP) announced in Sharjah today. Major General Al Khaili reiterated that strict legal measures will be taken against those found in violation of residency rules after the grace period ends. This includes reinstating previous fines for those who failed to correct their status during the given Amnesty timeframe. Addressing a media gathering, Major General Sultan Yusuf Al Nuaimi, Director General of Residency and Foreign Affairs at ICP said stricter measures will be enforced following this end of the Amnesty period, which will include deportation of violators and their inclusion in the no-entry list. He said intensive inspection campaigns will be conducted in residential areas, across companies, shops and industrial areas to identify violators. He told that dedicated teams are monitoring violators across these locations. “There will be fines imposed and deportations ordered from the country with no possibility of re-entry unless conditions are met,” he said. He urged those who […]
1 year ago
Saudi Arabia has announced a new insurance product to protect expat workers against financial defaults. The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, in collaboration with the Insurance Authority, has launched the Insurance Product to cover the entitlements of expat workers in private sector establishments in case of financial default. The Insurance Product aims to protect their financial rights in the event a company defaults, and is unable to pay wages for a specified period. Saudi expat insurance The benefits include, for example, a travel ticket for expat workers who wish to return to their home country. The launch of the Insurance Product is part of ongoing efforts to improve the labour market in the Kingdom through policies and regulations, to secure the contractual rights between workers and employers, and to increase the attractiveness and efficiency of the labour market, raising it to international levels. The Insurance Product is also consistent with a package of procedures established by the ministry to protect the rights of both parties in the labour relationship, including the Wage Protection Law and contract documentation. The Saudi ministry has issued a guidebook that explains all the procedures related to the Insurance Product; it can be accessed […]
1 year ago
The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development and the Insurance Authority launched a new insurance scheme titled “Insurance Product” that aimed to protect rights of expatriate workers. The scheme that takes effect on Sunday, Oct. 6, also reduces the financial burden on workers in the event of defaulting from the part of establishments in terms of their inability to make payment of wages for a specific period of time. The scheme will cover the dues of expatriate workers in private sector establishments in the event of default from their employers. The Insurance Product, provided through insurance companies in the Kingdom, covers the payment of expatriate workers’ dues if the establishment owners default on payment of wages. The scheme will be implemented in accordance with the terms and benefits covered and determined by the insurance document as per the policies and procedures regulating it. These benefits include, for example, a travel ticket if the expatriate worker wishes to return to his country on final exit. The launch of the Insurance Product comes within the framework of the efforts aimed at developing the labor market in the Kingdom through policies and legislation, preserving contractual rights between workers and employers, and increasing […]
1 year ago
The Coast Guard Police, in coordination with the Royal Oman Police (ROP), successfully thwarted an attempt by 13 expatriates to illegally exit the country. In an official statement, the Royal Oman Police said that the Coast Guard Police, led by the North Al Batinah Governorate Police, intercepted the group, all of whom are of Asian nationality. The individuals were apprehended as they attempted to leave Oman through unauthorised means. Authorities have initiated legal proceedings against the detained individuals.
1 year ago
Saudi heritages authorities have announced legal action against 23 expatriates accused of encroaching on archaeological sites. The government Heritage Commission said it had referred the 23 to competent agencies to take disciplinary procedures against them for violating the kingdom’s archaeological and urban heritage law by transporting stones and dust from antiquity sites. The violations were detected on the Umm Quriyat and Al Araj’a sites in Al Wajh governorate in the Tabuk region in north-western Saudi Arabia, the commission added. In recent years, Saudi Arabia has put increasing emphasis on national heritage and paid attention to renovation of ancient sites. Authorities have recently announced several archaeological discoveries as the kingdom’s tourism sector is experiencing a boom amid efforts to attract more foreign tourists as part of endeavours to overhaul the oil-reliant economy. In 2020, the kingdom created the Heritage Commission tasked with advancing and preserving the heritage sector. Moreover, the Commission supports efforts to develop national heritage assets, raise awareness and generate interest in them. It is also responsible for holding training courses, developing educational programmes and providing scholarships for talents. In September last year, the World Heritage Committee met in Riyadh. Since 2022, February 22 has been designated as Saudi […]
23 minutes ago
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