UAE visitors looking to change their visa status as airfares increase

• Travel agents report a surge in demand for ‘visa-change packages’ for UAE visitors traveling to Oman by bus.
• The rise in airfare has led to a preference for bus travel packages over airport-to-airport services.
• The package includes travel visas, a two-month UAE visit visa, exit fees, and one-night accommodation in Oman.

Visitors in the UAE seeking to change their visa status by traveling to Oman by bus are encountering a challenging situation, with travel agents noting a surge in demand that has fully booked ‘visa-change packages.’ Advisers recommend planning well in advance, suggesting applicants apply for the package a minimum of ten days before their visit visa expires.

Firoz Maliyakkal, founder and CEO of Tahira Tours and Travels, emphasized, “Buses are running to their capacity daily, and visitors wanting to avail of the service must reserve the package well in advance. The demand for visa change by bus traveling to Oman has shot through the roof. We are receiving over 100 inquiries.”

Travel agents reported that a private aggregator previously operated three daily bus services, and to meet the demand, many private agencies have initiated their bus services.

Feroz stated, “Currently, we operate eight privately operated buses with a seating capacity of over 300 from Sunday to Wednesday, and they are fully booked for the next ten days.”

The sudden increase in demand is a result of a rise in airfare, prompting individuals to explore more cost-effective alternatives.

Shihab Parwad, managing director of a private tourism company, said, “Earlier, visitors preferred airport-to-airport service for visa changes, but the price for that service has increased by nearly 20 percent.”

He also added that “The affordability of bus travel packages to Oman has become a preferred option for many, leading to a notable increase in the demand for this mode of visa change.”

The package price for visa changes by bus ranges from Dh1,000 to Dh1,100, representing a cost difference of Dh400 to Dh500 compared to flights for airport-to-airport visa changes. Parwad said that the package includes travel visas to enter Oman, a two-month UAE visit visa, exit fees, and one-night accommodation in Oman.

Visitors utilizing the bus services can stay for a day in Oman or return to the Emirates on the same day, depending on the issuance of their UAE visa.

The private buses depart from Fish Roundabout in Deira at 10 am and cross the UAE-Oman border by 1 pm, contingent on the crowd at the crossing. Parwad also said that after the border crossing, we initiate the visa application process, which is typically issued within 10 hours.

After receiving the visa, visitors start their return journey to UAE in the afternoon from Oman. “In case there is any visa issuance issue, they can stay for up to ten days (in the Sultanate). However, starting the next day, there will be a charge of Dh25 per day if you have to extend your stay waiting for visit visa issuance,” Parwad added.

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