JEDDAH/RIYADH, 13 February — The formalities of issuing visas to GCC residents have been made easy, quick and simple. “We’re fully geared to issue visas within a very short time,” Lt. Omar Al Shamsi of the Dubai naturalization and residency department (DNRD), said in Jeddah yesterday. “There is, however, no change in the policy of issuing visas to GCC residents,” Al Shamsi, also a member of the hospitality committee of the upcoming 7th Dubai Shopping Festival, told a press conference at Westin Jeddah yesterday. The DSF 2002 is scheduled from March 1 to 31 with many new attractions.
Replying to a question, he said: “The Kingdom’s expat residents, especially those from the professional category, will be given entry visa on arrival at the Dubai airport.”
According to him, as a special concession, the DNRD has lowered the salary limit that makes Dubai residents eligible to bring their relatives to Dubai. During DSF, Dubai residents earning a monthly salary of 5,000 dirhams and above can sponsor their families.
DSF Chief Operating Officer Ibrahim Saleh, leader of a visiting DSF delegation, said exchange of frequent visits between the people of the Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates reflected the strong bilateral links. “This is also reflected in Saudis forming the largest segment of GCC visitors to Dubai and also the most common winners at the annual DSF.
“This time we expect a substantial increase in visitors from the Kingdom, going by the reservations reported by travel agencies and hotels,” he said. This year for the second time the DSF will be based on the theme “One world one family one festival” and it will be bigger and more diverse, he added. The four-member delegation, accompanied by 30 representatives from Dubai hotels and tour operators, were part of a roadshow held.
Daily prizes worth $1 million, including two luxury cars and a four-wheel drive, cash prizes to children valued at 200,000 dirhams, shopping discounts and a total of 41 kg. gold to the shoppers are among the attractions of the month long festival.
Among the key attractions this time are the global village, the heritage village, carpet oasis and fireworks over Dubai Creek. A big highlight will be the opening of the children’s city, claimed to be the first and biggest dedicated entertainment venue for kids in the Middle East. The global village has been shifted to a new site at the DSF and will have double the space of last year with participation from 28 country pavilions and 45 restaurants. It will have parking for 10,500 cars.
Other attractions are an Arabian Bedouin lifestyle festival, the premiering of a new stage production of Caracalla’s “Two thousand and one nights,” street carnivals featuring over 200 international street performers, Daily Layali Dubai concerts by Arab singers, including Saudi singer Mohammed Abdou and Iranian singers like superstar Daryush and Ghobaishi, and usual promotions and raffles for luxury cars, gold and cash vouchers for visitors and shoppers.
Shoppers buying jewelry worth 500 dirhams and above are entitled to enter the daily draw for a kilo of gold. A grand prize of 10 kg. gold will be offered on the final day of DSF. Moreover, 31 shopping malls will offer discounts up to 70 percent and 70 Dubai hotels have declared discounts on room rates ranging from 25 to 40 percent, plus a special offer in which DSF visitors staying for three nights will be eligible for two free nights, according to Saeed Al Nabouda, chief marketing officer of DSF.
Dubai World Cup featuring 720 thoroughbreds from the world over, described as the world’s richest horse race offering $15 million in prizes, and Dubai Desert Classics for golfers are among the other major events. An estimated 2.5 million tourists are expected to visit Dubai this year, 12 percent up over last year’s figure of 1.8 million. Saudis will remain the largest segment of GCC visitors.
