Dubai for Visitors

The global economic crunch is affecting the travel industry to some degree, but international airlines are still experiencing a positive growth in their bookings throughout this winter season, albeit not as high as in the past year.

Passengers who may have decided to go on holidays to their favourite destinations can still go for late bookings. In previous years, travelers had to book months ahead of their travel dates.

This year, many holiday goers have foregone Christmas vacations. Jane Kimberly, a British expatriate residing in Dubai said, “Last Christmas, I visited my brother in Hong Kong and the Christmas before that I made a trip to Beijing. But this year, I’ve decided to stay here in Dubai and spend time with my friends and family. Many of my friends, who have already left for home, had made travel plans a few months ago and paid for it when the ticket prices weren’t that expensive.”

John Brighton, another British expatriate, agreed saying that most expatriates had already left town sticking to their travel plans because they were made in advance. “But I guess by next year, there will be a visible reduction in both tourism and aviation industry.”

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Emirati women and families will have an opportunity to sell traditional handicrafts at the Global Village. Maryam Mohamed Khalfan Al Roumi, Minister of Social Affairs, opened the Forsaty Pavilion, where 22 stalls will sell items made by local entrepreneurs.

“This is the first time that the Social Affairs Ministry has organised a pavilion in Global Village and the decision was consciously made given the popularity of the venue and the number of people it attracts,” Al Roumi said. “Forsaty Pavilion was designed to provide Emirati woman a platform to showcase their entrepreneurial skills and help transform those skills in a meaningful way through the assistance offered by government departments under the supervision of the Social Affairs Ministry.” Forsaty will sell traditional dresses, abayas, art works, bodycare products, perfumes and local cuisine.

The first six of 25 tourist information kiosks have been opened in Abu Dhabi, after a delay of more than a year.

Developed by the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA) and offering information about tourist attractions and facilities, the kiosks are placed at the Marina Mall, Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, the ADTA headquarters and the Abu Dhabi Duty Free in the capital, as well as at Al Ain Museum and on Sir Bani Yas Island.

“The kiosks are an A to Z of essential information, in Eng- lish and Arabic, on attractions and events,” explained Saeed Al Dhaheri, ADTA’s acting visitor informa- tion manager.

By the end of next year, ADTA plans to have all kiosks operating in five languages, with French, German and Russian being added to English and Arabic.

Expatriate women who marry Emiratis will have to wait for 15 years in order to seek UAE citizenship, if a proposal being studied by the Ministry of Interior is implemented.

The Director of Legal Affairs Department in the Ministry of Interior, Lieutenant-Colonel Rashid Al Khedr, told KhaleejTimes the ministry is studying a proposal to increase the minimum years of marriage required for expatriate wives to become UAE citizens.

The proposal suggests increasing the existing three-year period of mar riage to 15 years. “The ministry has revealed that some UAE nationals and foreign women were involved in bogus marriage cases to enable the women to obtain UAE citizenship,” Al Khedr pointed out.

The Federal National Council’s demand for imposition of stricter measures and conditions on the marriages of Emiratis with foreign women is highly appreciated by the Ministry of Interior, because amendments are required to prevent the negative trend.

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Residents will be able to hold their residence visa until they are 65 after which it can only be renewed if they are highly qualified, according to a proposal being studied by the Ministry of Interior.

The law currently restricts residents older than 60 from renewing their visa unless they hold a specialist post and it cannot be filled by an Emirati.

However, under the new law they may have to pay at least 50 per cent more than the current charges.

The move follows calls by Federal National Council members at the recent session to introduce high fees and stringent conditions for residency visas of expatriates older than 65 years.

The Director of Legal Affairs Department in the Ministry of Interior, Lieutenant-Colonel Rashid Al Khedr, told Khaleej Times that the ministry was reviewing the negative effects of renewal of visas for those people who had crossed the age of 65, especially on the demographic structure in the country, and on health care system as well as their costs, which are borne by the government.

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