Dubai: Expatriates residing in the GCC can enter the UAE through any border point, but they must obtain a visit visa in advance.
The UAE Residency Law allows specific categories of expatriate residents living in another Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) country to enter the UAE without the need to obtain a visit visa in advance.
They need only obtainan entry permit when they arrive at one of the country's entry points.
The rule applies to those living in any GCC state and holding valid resident visas in that state.
In order for these expatriates to enter the country without a visit visa prior to their arrival, they should comply with the Residency Law of the UAE.
Entry requirements
According to Article 43 of the Residency Law, expatriates living in one of the GCC states can obtain an entry permit at one of the border entry points of the country. Some do not need to obtain the visit visa or entry permit, but there are conditions.
The following nationals living in another GCC state can enter the UAE without a visit visa. Nationals from the United States, Canada, Australia and Japan, who are residents of a GCC state, can enter the UAE by obtaining an entry permit at one of the country's borders.
Those living in another GCC country and are citizens of New Zealand, Spain, Germany, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Portugal, Norway, Austria, Netherlands and Greece, do not need a visit visa in advance to enter the UAE.
In addition, the law also allows entry of family members of the above nationalities and their drivers sponsored by them, if they wish to enter the UAE.
All other nationals who have valid residency visas in another GCC state but who wish to visit the UAE need visit visas.
The law allows businessmen, managers of companies and their representatives, accountants, auditors, doctors and engineers of any nationality who are living in any GCC country with valid residency visas to enter the UAE without a visit visa, and they can obtain an entry permit at one of the country's borders.
For family
If the wife of the resident is unemployed and she and the children wish to visit the UAE, they need a visit visa in advance, if the husband and father is not accompanying them.
If the wife is not a businesswoman, manager of a company, an accountant, auditor, doctor or an engineer, she will need a visa in advance.
