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Khaleej Times
30-07-2025
- Business
- Khaleej Times
UAE ‘quick visa' scam: How some firms are cheating people
When Dubai resident Muhammed K. needed a visit visa urgently for his son, he approached a company that advertised on social media about quick visit visas at a premium cost. However, the minute he transferred money into the bank account, the company stopped responding and within days the social media account was deleted. 'I heard that one of the most reputed companies in the UAE was going to have a walk-in interview,' he said. 'The interview was to happen on a Thursday and by the time I heard of it, it was already Monday. My son has been unemployed for more than a year so I thought it would be a great opportunity for him. That is why I wanted the visit visa in a hurry. "The company asked for Dh200 premium in addition to the usual charges for a one-month single entry visit visa. I paid the full sum and they assured me that I would get the visit visa the next day but I soon learnt that it was a scam.' Stay up to date with the latest news. Follow KT on WhatsApp Channels. On Monday, the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) warned UAE residents and visitors against using unauthorised offices and social media accounts that claim to offer fast-track application processing. The authority also confirmed that it was actively monitoring suspicious accounts and websites and is preparing to take necessary legal action against these fraudulent operators. Need of the hour According to Safeer Mohammed, general manager of Smart Travels, the message by ICP is the 'need of the hour', as they have come across many people who have been duped. 'There are many who are spreading false advertising through social media channels like Facebook, Instagram and Tiktok promising visit visas in one day or for reduced charges,' he said. 'Several people have come to us saying they have been duped and we have helped them with the process.' Abdul Gafoor, general manager of Al Mas Businessmen Service, explained that no company or firm can advertise fast-track visa services. 'Whether to give a visa or not and how much time it will take is solely at the discretion of the ICP or the General Directorate (GDRFA),' he said. 'No company can guarantee a visa or how much time it will take. We have had cases where some members of a family have been granted visa while others were denied. If any company guarantees any kind of visas, that itself is a warning sign.' Impact According to Safeer, such fraudulent companies impact customer confidence. 'We do a lot of digital marketing advertisements,' he said. 'When fraudulent companies cheat people online, it impacts customer's trust and confidence in all the companies that market digitally. In this day and age where the most amount of business comes digitally, this is very harmful for our reputation.' Gafoor added that influencers and social media group admins should be careful about who they work with. 'There are many influencers who do advertisements for unscrupulous companies, advertising their visa services without realising that they could be held liable for misinformation,' he said. 'Some of the companies even post on popular Whatsapp and Facebook groups about their services. Admins of these groups should carefully vet members and be mindful of what is being posted in their groups.'
Gulf Insider
01-07-2025
- Business
- Gulf Insider
UAE-India Airfares Drop To 'Unusually Low Levels' After July 8, Say Travel Agents
After a minor price hike to Dh2,500-Dh3,000 in early July (July 2-7), UAE-India airfares are defying seasonal norms by dropping to unusual lows of Dh1,450-Dh1,600 after July 8. The trend, which is rather unusual this time of year, is seeing fare drops to hyper-busy destinations, including Mumbai (Dh1,161), Bengaluru (Dh1,604), and Thiruvananthapuram (Dh1,565). Fares to these cities in July–August 2024 averaged at Dh1,800 (Mumbai) to Dh2,700 (Bengaluru), making it unaffordable for last-minute bookings. 'From now until July 7, onward fares to India are quite high, especially flights to Tier 2 cities. There are no seats available on flights to Kochi and Kozhikode in Kerala. Interestingly, after July 8, the fares have dropped to lows we haven't seen since the summer of 2021-2022,' said Afi Ahmed, Chairman, Smart Travels. According to Ahmed, airfares dropped to these lows for the last time immediately after the pandemic, when air travel confidence was at an all-time low amid COVID-induced travel restrictions. 'Last year, the return airfares from mid-July until August-end had touched highs of Dh3,000. Travel demand was insatiable during the summer months. That doesn't seem to be the case this year,' said Ahmed. A considerable drop in airfares Flights departing from Dubai International Airport (DXB) on July 2 to cities in India have reached highs of Dh 2,105 (Bengaluru) to Dh 2,205 (Thiruvananthapuram). Airfares to smaller Indian cities, including Mangalore, Lucknow, Varanasi, and Kozhikode, which are predominantly serviced by budget carriers, are reaching highs of Dh2,500 to Dh3,000. Even connecting flights to destinations like metro cities like Bengaluru (Dh1,622) and Mumbai (Dh1,248) are considerably high. After July 8, however, fares drop to Dh1,565 to Thiruvananthapuram, Dh1,161 to Mumbai, Dh1,809 to Chennai, and Dh1,163 to New Delhi. Last year, flights to these destinations were touching exorbitant highs of Dh2,800 to Dh3,000 amid surging travel demand. Airfares from Abu Dhabi to Ahmedabad (July 8-31) is priced at an unbelievable low of Dh735. Why is this happening? 'We are seeing a much more manageable increase in airfares to India this July,' said Ahmed. 'While the absolute lowest off-season fares are not currently available, the prices are certainly more attractive than what travellers have had to contend with in the last couple of years,' he said. What are the reasons for this phenomenon? 'Several factors are driving this trend. First, travel confidence has been hit due to the monsoons in Kerala. People are fearing heavy rains and are planning their return end of July instead of the usual August,' he explained. Typically, Indian expatriate families plan their trips back home during the summer, taking advantage of the two-month break from school. 'Nowadays, people are taking their trips back home several times a year instead of just two months,' said Ahmed. Moreover, couples and bachelors usually plan their trips home during off-peak months to take advantage of cheaper airfares. Additionally, an increasing number of Indian expatriates are opting to travel to other holiday destinations during the summer months instead of taking diaspora trips. Sapna Aidasani, Head of Marketing at Pluto Travels, said, 'People are no longer travelling for one to two months at a stretch, but rather for shorter durations of two to ten days. Travellers are now returning sooner.' She said the trend has changed towards shorter trips, typically a week, ten days, or fifteen days. 'On return, they break their holiday again and are opting for destinations closer to the UAE, such as Azerbaijan or Schengen nations (if visa allows). Africa is also gaining popularity. Many residents have adjusted their travel plans and are now considering destinations beyond India,' Sapna added. Shorter trips home Even for trips to India, the duration is often limited to ten to fifteen days, possibly due to the influence of the monsoon season. 'With corporate leaves rarely exceeding twenty days, and employees preferring to break up their travel into two to three trips a year, Dubai residents generally prefer not to stay away from home for extended periods, usually returning by the first week of August. They then plan their subsequent trips during the winter or Diwali, often breaking their summer travel into two shorter holidays,' she said. Increase in flights The moderation in airfare prices can also be attributed to an increase in the number of flights operating between the UAE and India. Several airlines, particularly budget carriers IndiGo and Akasa, have introduced new routes and increased their flight frequencies, particularly from Abu Dhabi, providing more options for passengers and helping to stabilise prices. Travellers are still advised to book their flights as early as possible to secure the best available fares, as prices may fluctuate depending on demand and availability. The current trend, however, suggests a less financially straining summer for those planning to visit India from the UAE. Source Gulf News
Time of India
09-06-2025
- Time of India
UAE-based Indians travelling to Nepal caught off guard by new enforced reform, lose over Dh 1400
Several Indian residents of the UAE have faced unexpected delays and financial losses during recent trips to Nepal after a lesser-known travel regulation was suddenly enforced. The rule requires a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Indian embassy in Nepal for Indian nationals returning to the Gulf, and many travellers say they were unaware of this requirement until it was too late, according to a report by Khaleej Times. Dubai-based Manu Palerichal, CEO of CLA Emirates, told Khaleej Times that his Eid break vacation to Nepal turned stressful when immigration officers informed him of the NOC requirement upon landing in Kathmandu. 'It caught us off guard because no one had informed us about this beforehand,' he said. Manu and his family had already travelled to Pokhara, nearly 200km away from the Indian embassy in Kathmandu, making it difficult to secure the document. He returned to Kathmandu later and managed to get the NOC, but only after facing uncertainty and additional travel costs. Travel agents in the UAE confirmed that the rule has existed for some time but has only recently been enforced strictly. 'Authorities found people misusing the system, including in cases of human trafficking and tax evasion,' said Safeer Mohammed, general manager of Smart Travels. 'We now advise all clients to get the NOC well in advance.' (Join our ETNRI WhatsApp channel for all the latest updates) Thabseer Ahmed, another UAE resident, lost over Dh1,400 due to this rule. 'We found out about the NOC only at the airport in Nepal while heading back from our holiday,' he said to Khaleej Times. As his return flight was at 3 a.m. on a Sunday, he was unable to access embassy help in time and missed his flight. 'I tried flying via New Delhi, but I had to book a new ticket to Dubai once I arrived,' he added. Live Events You Might Also Like: How Nepali "job-seekers" cross into India via Bihar to reach Qatar, UAE from Mumbai Other travellers from GCC countries, including Kuwait and Qatar, also lost money on rebooked tickets due to last-minute changes. To obtain the NOC, travellers must submit passport-sized photographs, copies of their passport and UAE residence visa, Emirates ID, immigration stamp, flight tickets, and an application form. The cost is 3,100 Nepali rupees per person. 'Since Nepal is close by, many Indian expats in the Gulf choose it for short breaks,' said Manu to Khaleej Times. 'Travel agents must clearly inform travellers about the NOC rule to avoid unnecessary trouble.' Safeer also advised Indian nationals in the UAE who are planning trips through Nepal to ensure they check the latest travel advisories. 'Anyone returning to the UAE via Nepal must have the NOC in hand before flying.' You Might Also Like: Famed Sherpa guide will attempt to climb Mount Everest for 31st time, break his own record
Time of India
08-06-2025
- Time of India
Nepal's new NOC rule for UAE travellers: How Indian expats lost Dh1,400 during trip
Indian expats lose over Dh1,400 due to Nepal's sudden enforcement of NOC rule for UAE-bound travellers. Some Indian residents of the UAE have unexpectedly lost more than Dh1,400 each or faced significant travel stress after Nepal began strictly enforcing a No Objection Certificate (NOC) requirement from the Indian embassy for re-entry to the Emirates. As reported by Khaleej Times, this rule, though not new, has recently been implemented more rigorously due to concerns about human trafficking and tax evasion. Dubai resident Manu Palerichal, CEO of CLA Emirates, recounted a stressful experience during his Eid break trip to Nepal. 'As soon as we landed in Nepal on Thursday, an immigration officer informed us that we need a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Indian embassy when returning to the UAE,' he told Khaleej Times. 'No one had informed us about this beforehand… fellow travellers weren't aware either and told us to ignore it,' he said. Enforced due to system abuse After reaching out to his travel agent, Manu learned that the rule had started being strictly applied to prevent abuses of the system. However, the family had already travelled to Pokhara, nearly 200km from Kathmandu, where the Indian embassy is located. 'We spent two days in Pokhara, anxiously wondering what to do if the embassy was closed on Saturday and Sunday,' Manu said. 'We even came up with alternate plans to return to Dubai in case we couldn't get the document.' Safeer Mohammed, general manager of Smart Travels, confirmed to Khaleej Times that the rule has existed for a while but is now enforced more tightly. 'Authorities found people misusing the system, and that may have prompted this change,' he explained. 'Instances of human trafficking and tax evasion were discovered and that may have been one of the reasons why the rule is now being enforced strictly.' He also clarified that travellers heading from Nepal to India won't have any problems, but those returning to the UAE via Nepal 'must have the NOC before travelling.' Travellers denied boarding, incur losses Dubai resident Thabseer Ahmed faced financial setbacks of over Dh1,400 after discovering the NOC requirement only at the airport while returning from Nepal. 'We found out about the NOC only at the airport (in Nepal) while heading back from our holiday,' he told Khaleej Times. His friends flying back to India had no issues, but those heading to the GCC were denied boarding. 'We tried to get to the Indian embassy, but the flight was at 3am on a Sunday and no one was available to help us,' he said. Thabseer tried to reroute via New Delhi, but it didn't help. 'You have to check out in India, collect your luggage and then check back in. So once I arrived in New Delhi, I had to book a new flight back to the UAE,' he said, adding that a friend from Kuwait lost around Dh2,000, while another from Qatar also faced losses in rebooking. Embassy process, required documents, and advice Eventually, Manu returned to Kathmandu with his family and was relieved to find the Indian embassy working through the weekend. 'I did not have to wait much but staff told me that there was a huge rush on Thursday and Friday with people having to wait hours for their documents,' he said. According to Manu, the documents needed for the NOC included: Passport-size photo Copies of passport and UAE residence visa Immigration stamp Air ticket Emirates ID Application form Each certificate cost 3,100 Nepali rupees per person, totalling over Dh300 for his four-member family. He urged others to check travel requirements beforehand. 'Since Nepal is just a short distance away, a lot of Indians from GCC countries plan short trips here,' he warned. 'Travel agents must give clear directives about these new requirements to avoid complications.'
Khaleej Times
23-04-2025
- Khaleej Times
UAE: Over 100 residents cancel travel plans to Kashmir after terror attack kills 26
For the last two months, Asha Abdulkader and her family of 15 have been looking forward to a relaxing trip to Kashmir, intending to visit several cities including Pahalgam. However, they were forced to cancel their trip after a deadly terror attack killed 26 people on Tuesday. 'Our group including my siblings and cousins was supposed to leave on April 28 for seven days,' Asha told Khaleej Times on Wednesday. 'Now we were left with no choice except to cancel the tour plan and face the loss incurred due to the cancellation of the flight and tour package policies.' The family are among the hundreds of people who have canceled their trips to the country after an attack targeted tourists. Asha said she was dealing with heartbreak, disbelief and shock in the aftermath of the tragedy. 'I'm deeply disappointed and saddened,' she said. 'Kashmir is such a beautiful place that is on the wish list of almost every Indian. I am also shocked about how if this attack had happened next week at the time, my family could have been there. My thoughts are with the victims and their families.' She added that she understood that safety was paramount, and the necessity of this decision. At least 26 people died and 17 others were injured when terrorists opened fire in three locations at a popular tourist spot in the Pahalgam region of India's Jammu and Kashmir. Among the dead — all men — are 25 Indians and one Nepalese national. One Indian national was a Dubai resident. Over 80 cancellations Local travel agency Smart Travels has had to cancel the flights of more than 80 people in the last two days. 'We had begun a campaign for summer which gave UAE residents the chance to enjoy a staycation in different parts of India before proceeding to their hometown,' said Safeer Mohammed from the agency. 'One of the locations on our list was Kashmir and we had over 80 bookings. For the last two days, we have been on calls with various stakeholders canceling and rescheduling the huge block of tickets we had booked.' Safeer added that the terror attack was shocking and had a huge impact on the tourism industry as a whole. 'The militants targeted tourists at a time when the industry was booming in Kashmir,' he said. 'Safety had improved and people were really beginning to explore the region. It is absolutely disheartening what has happened.' Smart Travels, the driving force behind the upcoming Indian domestic airline Air Kerala, has been promoting pan India travel. Recently, Air Kerala opened its corporate office in Kochi, with plans to begin flight operations later this year. Not willing to risk it Fouzia Sameer and her family of 10 people had planned a trip to Kashmir in July. She is one of those who have canceled her trip. 'Our trip is three months from now and conditions might have settled by then but I am not willing to take the risk,' she said. 'This particular attack specifically targeted tourists and I think it will be a long time before any holiday makers have the guts to go back there. I feel so sorry for the families who lost their loved ones but also to the Kashmiris who depended on tourism for their livelihood. It is such a senseless tragedy.'
