Even after a week, many passengers continue to be stranded at Dubai International Airport, since the UAE authorities have tightened the visa rules.
As per the visa rules, tourists and the visitors must comply with the requirements to include a return ticket, a hotel booking or a relative’s reference, and sufficient cash. Since last week, a number of them were not allowed to enter the country because they failed to meet the minimum criteria of the visa rules.
According to Travel industry sources, several of these passengers were travelling to Kuwait via Dubai, especially blue-collared workers. These categories of travellers did not meet these requirements.
Though hundreds of stranded passengers have already been repatriated, a number of passengers are still awaiting updates and a final decision on their status at the airport.
17 Indians Repatriated
Out of the 66 Indian passengers who had been stuck at DXB on Monday, 17 were flown home, the remaining are still inside the airport. They are expected to be repatriated in a day or two, Media reported.
According to the reports, the authorities are having difficulties finding the seats for repatriation as flights to and from India are already operating at 80 to 90 per cent capacity.
98 Pakistanis still stranded at the Dubai Airport
Ninety-eight Pakistani passengers who failed to meet visa requirements were stranded at DXB on Tuesday, the Pakistan Consulate in Dubai said to local media.
According to the Pakistani embassy, a total of 1,374 Pakistanis have been denied entry so far and 1,276 of them have been repatriated. The rest are expected to be sent home in the next 12 hours, Media reported
Ahmed Amjad Ali, Consul-General at Pakistan Consulate in Dubai, has met the authorities of Dubai Airports, immigration, dnata Management, as well as the general managers of Pakistani carriers PIA and Airblue, to resolve the issue and facilitate the stranded Pakistanis.