Apply for UAE visa online, fly to Dubai

Emirates passengers from India can now apply for UAE visa online and fly to Dubai.

Passengers can apply for the visa by logging on to 'manage a booking' section on Emirates.com. They can upload the requisite documents including passport biopage, photograph and proof of residence and then track the status of their application, Orhan Abbas, Vice-President India and Nepal, Emirates Airlines, told reporters in Bangalore on Wednesday.

Under the new visa application procdure, a 96-hour visa will cost Rs 1,980 ($44) plus about Rs 765 ($17) service fee and any applicable sales taxes. A 30-day visa will cost Rs 2,565 ($57) plus about Rs 765 ($17) service fee and any applicable sales taxes.

Additionally, a deposit of Rs 12,262 ($272.50) is mandatory which is refunded after exit from Dubai, he said.

Emirates is also offering return economy class fare from Dubai of Rs 13,990 till June 18, 2010.

Further, Emirates now offers "Mobile Emirates.com"- facility of booking tickets over mobile phones, he said.

The airline has also come up with offerings like "Kids Go Free", Dubai stopover and complimentary stay for first and business class passengers.

Abbas said the "Kids Go Free" offer enables two children upto age of 16 to enjoy free flights, tourist visa, three or five star accomodation, meals, rides on Dubai metro, airport transfers and access to numerous attractions in Dubai when accompanied by two paying adults.

He said Emirates would also offer special packages to South Africa for the coming FIFA World Cup 2010. Passengers can choose a team specific or match specific packages.

They need to choose any "one of the three base camps in South Africa- Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg.

The follow your team package includes return airfare in economy class, five nights accommodation in three or five star hotels, local transfers and a match ticket beginning at $3,780 (around INR 1,70,100) per person from India.

Similarly, the match specific package includes airfare, match tickets and accommodation starting at $5,765 (around Rs 259,425) per person exclusive of meals, he said.

Emirates operates 184 weekly flights to 10 destinations in India. The airline flies to 102 destinations in 62 countries globally.