For most people, the United Arab Emirates means just one place: Dubai, the spectacular city of majestic skyscrapers, palm-shaped islands, city-sized malls, indoor ski resorts, and luxurious beaches. But beyond the shimmer, there is a diverse array of six more emirates, each with its own identity and attractiveness.
The mystique of the UAE was like a mirage to the Israelis. Across the Persian Gulf and much of the Arab world, Israeli travelers have traditionally been banned from entry thanks to their passports not being acknowledged. Citizens of most Arab countries, in turn, have been incapable of traveling to Israel to visit the holy sites of Jerusalem and the beaches, restaurants, and nightlife of Tel Aviv. But all of that changed last month when Israel and the United Arab Emirates, which includes Dubai, announced the Abraham Accords. It’s an agreement that made the UAE the third Arab nation to officially recognize Israel and melted decades of cool relations between the two countries.
Bi-Lateral Visa Waiver Agreement between the UAE and Israel
Israel and the United Arab Emirates have agreed to reciprocal visa-free travel, making Emirati citizens the first in the Arab world to not require Israeli entry permits. The deal was signed after the first-ever official delegation from the UAE landed in Israel for a day of talks following an agreement to normalize ties signed at the White House in September. The visa waiver agreement between the UAE and Israel was one of 4 agreements signed during a historic first high-level diplomatic visit from the Emirati government to Tel Aviv.
As per the new rule, Israel citizens don’t need visas for traveling to UAE as tourists. Due to COVID-19, the country is only partially open for travel for now. The maximum duration of stay is 90 days. But for other visa types like:
- Service Visa
- Student Visa
- Work Visa
- Visit Visa
- Investor or Partner Visa
- Residence Visa
- Family Visa
- Maid Visa
You need to follow the below-mentioned procedure. The visa exemption policy for Israeli citizens is only applicable for a tourist visa, as of now.
How to Apply for UAE Visa on an Israeli Passport?
There is a common misconception that if you have an Israeli stamp in your passport, you cannot enter Dubai, may be correct in the past. But there are official statements on the UAE embassy website by The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which says, “The existence of Israel stamp on the passport is not a reason to reject your entry to UAE.”
Documents Required for the Visa Application
Your Dubai visa process starts once we receive the clear scanned copies of your following documents
- Passport Bio Data Page: This is the page in the client’s passport which has the Photo and other personal details. The passport bio page has to be colored. Black and White copies will not be accepted.
- Passport Last Page: Certain nationalities have important information on the last page of their passport e.g. Israel. If your nationality does not have any information on the last page you are free to attach the first page of your passport in this browser. The last page has to be colored. Black and white copies will not be accepted.
- Photograph: Each applicant needs to submit a clear color photograph of themselves. Preferably the photo should not be cropped from the passport. The photograph has to be colored. Black and white photographs will not be accepted.
- Passport page with exit stamp, if you’ve visited Dubai before
- Confirmed return air tickets
*Special Note
- The validity of the passport should be a minimum of 6 months.
- The passport should not be in a handwritten format.
- The documents submitted should not be blurred or weary.
It should be noted that Israeli citizens are permitted to enter UAE on an Israeli passport or apply for a UAE visa. The UAE officially did not allow Israeli citizens or people with an Israeli passport before August 2020 to enter UAE. Both countries now have formally agreed to normalize the relation between trade and business. Israeli citizens can enter Dubai and enjoy some stopover time in the emirate if flights are allowed to enter the space of UAE in near future. Soon all kinds of tourist visas will be available for Israeli citizens, but an immigration system update is awaited on the same. Israeli citizens can transit through UAE. An Israeli citizen with a non-Israeli passport can use it to enter Dubai after certain security checks. The third part nationals with an Israeli stamp or visa in their passport are allowed to enter Dubai. UAE also looking forward to welcoming Israeli guests in Dubai for Expo 2020. Currently, Expo is delayed by one year due to Covid 19 pandemic. There are certain laws in Israel also regarding travel to Dubai. Like the people have to take special permission from the military.
We are Here for You
We, at Riz & Mona Consultancy, have made the visa process easier for you. Our visa executives come with years of visa experience and expertise in customer handling. If you need more guidance regarding the procedure of visa application or related query, don’t hesitate to contact us. Our visa experts and consultants are there to help you at every step. We have more than a decade of involvement and experience in this field and we can make the visa process hassle-free. Feel free to contact us for more information.
