New Passport Rules Have Been Introduced To And From UAE

The UAE government has introduced new passport rules on flights for tourists.

It is necessary to include first name and surname of the passenger.

The rule was announced on November 21 and it is applicable to all airlines.

According to the UAE immigration laws, a passenger will be considered inadmissible or INAD if mandatory information is not provided.

The news broke at a time when Dubai International Airport is expecting a 64 million record-breaking influx of travelers in the second half of the year.

The new rules are only applicable for tourist and visit visa holders.

Those with residence and employment visas are currently exempt.

It comes as the World Cup is under way in nearby Qatar.

A statement from Indigo sent to travel agents said: “As per instructions from the UAE Authorities, effective November 21, 2022, passengers with a single name on their passports travelling on tourist, visit or any other type of visa shall not be allowed to travel to/from UAE.

“However, passengers with a single name on passports and in possession of a residence permit or employment visa shall be allowed to travel provided the same name is updated in the ‘First Name’ and ‘Surname’ columns.”

The rule-changes will particularly impact UAE flights to and from India due to Diwali-surge as UAE-India airfares are as low as Dhs300 to Kochi.

Skyscanner suggests airfares from key Indian cities such as Chennai, Mumbai, and Bangalore range from Dhs467 to Dhs552 and are predicted to soar come December.

Most carriers are offering discounts and packages, with budget airlines increasing baggage allowances to 40kgs for those travelling to India.

On the other hand, resident carrier Air India has launched two new flights to meet the rising demand.