As per an amendment approved by the UAE Cabinet, Indian passport holders with a valid American visa or a Green card shall be granted entry visa to the UAE. Valid for 14 days with a single renewal possible for the same period upon payment of applicable fees. This visa procedure is simplified in order to increase UAE-India relations in trade and tourism. In 2016, around 1.6 million Indian tourists visited the UAE and about 50,000 UAE tourists visited India. Of the daily 143 flights which operated between UAE and Indian cities, about 1,000 flights operate every week.
At present, citizens of 47 countries, besides the GCC nations can get visa on arrival.
BILATERAL VISITS
The strong bond between India and the UAE has accelerated in the past two years with a series of high level bilateral visits between the two countries. In 2016, various strategies were discussed to strengthen the cooperation and the bond between the two countries. January 2017 marked a significant occasion in relations between India and the UAE with high ranking dignitaries attending the 68th Republic Day celebrations. 14 different agreements were signed which includes strategic comprehensive partnership and deals on defense & maritime cooperation. This added a new impetus to this strengthening bilateral commitment.
Latest reports show India as the UAE's second largest trading partner with the UAE-India trade growing around $60 billion (Dh 220 billion) per annum. UAE exports to India totaled to about $27 billion while India exports to the UAE were about $33 billion.
GROWING TRADE
About 45,000 Indian companies invest about $70 billion (Dh257 billion) in the UAE. At the same time, the UAE is investing $10 billion (Dh 36 billion) in the Indian sectors of energy, metallurgical industry, services, technology and construction. A number of UAE companies like Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, Abu Dhabi National Energy Company, Emaar and Dubai Ports World invest and operate in India. Currently, Dubai Ports World operates in six major ports in India.
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