GCC Resident Visit to UAE on FlyDubai

Hi Guys, Let me share my experience I was resident of Dubai for 16 years from 1999-2015.

Apr-2015 i have joined in Qatar as General Manager , I was booked to visit ARABIAN TRAVEL MARKET, & booked my flight via Emirates Airline, upon reaching at check in counter the guy told the same story as above that you need to stay minimum 6 months in order to get on arrival visa.

But i refused to give up , went to Emirates office and spoke to lady in charge , she also was saying the stuff , but i told that i was resident of Dubai for 16 years, she immediately back tracked and asked me to go check in counter and was accepted with hesitation by the counter agent.

So if you were to be GCC resident previously you will be allowed to get visa on arrival without completing 6 months

there is no requirement of 6 months for visa on arrival.

hey frchange,

I have been meaning to post a response, but I did it on a different forum.

I arranged a visa from the hotel in Dubai and it cost me AED 500. I did not want to take a chance at the airport, nor buy a last minute ticket.

I initially did not show my visa to the flyDubai agent, just to see the reaction, and he did ask if I had been a resident for 6 months.

The immigration officer on arrival and departure and at the egate desk in T1 Arrivals told me that I was eligible for visa on arrival. They were rather mute when I asked if there was a 6 month rule.

I am not sure what the 6 month rule is. The airlines seem to think you need to be a resident for six months before you qualify for VoA.

Logic (according to me) would dictate that my RP should be valid for six months after I intend to depart from the country I am visiting. (Most embassies enforce the six month rule when issuing visas on passports)

It took me close to 2.5 hours at Dubai Terminal 2 to get out of immigration. It was chaos. I will never travel FlyDubai for that reason.

My understanding is that Emirates will make you sign a waiver at the airport stating that you will not hold them liable.

I would appreciate if you could share your feedback after your trip.

Thanks,

K

Hi,

I'd like to ask the OP (krisdoha) if he was indeed able to travel to Dubai with an RP less than 6 months old using another airline?

I am in a similar position right now. Original from Pakistan, I have lived in the UAE for many years and recently moved to Doha. I got my RP this week and was planning to go back to Doha for the weekend (my wife, son etc are all still there) but was told by not just flydubai, but also Emirates and QA that I needed to wait 6 months before being eligible for a visa on arrival. My designation entitles me to visa on arrival btw.

Any help or clarity on this issue would be greatly appreciated.

fly Emirates, they will let you sign a waiver and they will let you board the aircraft... you're an Engineer, make sure this is the profession written in your RP, Emirates Air may not even ask you to sign the waiver...

That is the rule. Fly Dubai is strictly implementing it. You will only have difficulty during the check-in with them. But the immigration is not that strict. So if you want to travel problem free, go with Emirates Airlines.

If you can read arabic please make sure it says 'Engineer' because I have heard cases when it has not worked upon arrival.

I was a Teacher, had a contract with me, and etc etc etc but because my RP says 'housewife' I was not allowed to get visa upon arrival when travelling without my sponsor (husband). So I HAD TO GET A VISA EVERYTIME I WENT TO DUBAI without him... annoying! Fly Emirates does it rather fast, no complains there.

Sharjah might be bit easier for immigration but it will cost you more on taxi than the fare difference and you will be wasting your time as well in the traffic.

Try Air Arabia instead.

For approximately the same price, checked in luggage is included (no need to buy as in FlyDubai) and the immigration line at Sharjah airport is much shorter than Dubai.

Only problem is that if you plan to stay in Dubai, the airport is bit far (cost more to get taxi) and most of the time there is significant traffic jam.

Don't know whether they have the same six month rule though...

Look my friend, Call Qatar Airways or Emirates who will give you a clear picture. The issue is with FlyDubai. They will not allow you to board if you do not a have a pre arranged visa irrespective of the RP validity. My friend who is in Senior Managerial post was returned from the Airport due to this reason and had to cancel his meetings in Dubai.

Thanks all for your responses.

My RP is for a year, I have had it for less than six months, and it will be valid for more than six months after my travel.

I am not quite sure which of the above statements are actually relevant because the published rules aren't clear.

I do take the advice that it may be wiser to travel another airline, as the confusion seems to be coming from FlyDubai.

I shall inquire at Dubai Immigration when I get there as to what the actual rules are.

dont take a risk buddy. As far as i know, you should have a minimum validity of passport and rp of 6 months and should have also stayed in the gcc country of residence for a minimum of 6 months.

you can always ask flydubai to assist you in getting a visa for the UAE.

Forget Fly Dubai and travel by Emirates or Qatar Airways, obtain visa on arrival and after six months stay in Qatar use flydubai

FlyDubai will not accept passengers who does not pocess a pre-arranged visa. On arrival visa passengers will not be able to travel FlyDubai.If you are planning to take on arrival visa you should travel with Emirates or Qatar Airways to Dubai.

What you have mentioned is all true except for the 6 months stay.

It is required that your Residence Permit be valid a minimum of 6 months on the remining period, irrespective of your number of months stay n Qatar.

Absolutely No Issue provided:

1 You are indian passport Holder.

2. You are GCC resident.

3. Your passport indicate that you are engineer.

If you full fill all above proceed with out considering stay of 6 months, i have practical experience,

Proceed with confidence.

REgards

Naveed

Its true

You can't use the GCC residency channel unless you complete six months .

the rule,