Middle East

Good news!! Indians can now fly to the UAE

Indian nationals with any type of valid UAE visas can now travel to the country, India’s Ambassador to the UAE has said.

Taking to Twitter, Ambassador Pavan Kapoor referred to an Indian Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) notification, “as per which both Indian and UAE airlines” can carry Indian nationals holding any type of visa from India to the UAE, Khaleej Times has reported.

Previously, only residency visa holders were allowed to travel to UAE on flights operated under  India’s repatriation mission called Vande Bharat.

This development means UAE residents of Indian nationality who were stranded in India can now return to the UAE, Gulf News said in a report. Those seeking to visit the UAE can also board Indian and UAE airlines to fly from India to the UAE. Earlier, India had barred its citizens holding tourist or visitor visas from travelling to UAE.

The move will also help Indians to bring their children studying in India to travel to UAE to meet their parents. Several families have been tweeting constantly and sending requests to the Indian missions urging them to allow their children or other family members stranded in India to fly to the UAE on tourist/visit visas, according to the Gulf News report. Those with new entry permits have also been seeking help to facilitate their entry.

On August 7, the Indian Ministry of Home Affairs had issued a memorandum that said: “In respect with countries with which a bilateral travel arrangement, or an air bubble scheme, has been formed, any Indian national holding any type of valid visas for such countries may be permitted to travel to the country concerned as long as there is no travel restrictions for entry of Indian nationals in that country.”