Latest news with #UAE-bound
Time of India
4 hours ago
- 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.'
New Indian Express
13-05-2025
- Automotive
- New Indian Express
UAE-bound vessel MV Sirrah resumes voyage following emergency repairs
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A UAE-bound cargo vessel stranded off the coast of Vizhinjam managed to set sail just hours before the Coast Guard's deadline on Monday. The bulk carrier MV Sirrah, registered under the flag of St. Kitts & Nevis, departed for Khorfakkan Port in the UAE at 2.30 am on Monday. Its departure was made possible after a critical 900-kg engine compressor was sourced from Mumbai and delivered with the support of Waterline Shipping & Logistics Pvt. Ltd., a Thiruvananthapuram-based shipping agency, in coordination with the Kerala Maritime Board. The vessel, which had originally set off from Chennai, encountered technical issues and was forced to anchor about seven nautical miles from Vizhinjam port. 'The ship's owners acted swiftly to procure the required spare parts, but due to the prevailing war-like situation, the transport vehicle carrying the equipment was delayed at multiple checkpoints for security inspections,' said Manoj Nair, managing director and CEO of Waterline Shipping & Logistics Pvt. Ltd. Once cleared by Customs, the spare parts were ferried to the vessel using Dhwani, a tug operated by the Kerala Maritime Board.
Khaleej Times
22-04-2025
- Business
- Khaleej Times
Some UAE tourists spend over Dh7,000 on luxury experiences; here's why they choose the Emirates
Many tourists are influenced by targeted ads when planning their trips across the UAE, a report by Yango Ads revealed. This statistic highlights a growing importance of data-driven advertising strategies in the tourism sector. Yango Ads, which has released its 2025 Tourism Industry Guide, also stated in its report that the UAE continues to rise as a preferred destination, with over 20 per cent of CIS travellers choosing it in 2024 and many spending over Dh7,000 per trip on premium accommodations and experiences. The top influencing factors for destination choice include pleasant climate which accounts for 58.6 per cent, cost of travel, visa convenience and rich cultural experiences. Dubai's luxury experiences Hotels, airbnbs and travel agents emphasise how they leverage user data to craft personalised advertising campaigns that highlight Dubai's luxury experiences. David Ganji, managing director, The Holidave Travel, said, 'We study booking patterns, reviews and seasonal trends to understand what travellers are looking for.' This helps businesses suggest the right destination, hotels, and experiences to their clients at the right time. 'We personalise travel experiences for UAE-bound tourists by using Google analytics and social media that help us understand what travellers really want. For example, when people search online for luxury hotels, shopping, or family activities in Dubai or Abu Dhabi, we see these trends through targeted ads and customer feedback. This allows us to suggest the perfect holiday based on their interests and budget,' added Ganji. Similarly, if a traveller is interested in a premium experience, agencies make sure to offer luxury hotels. 'This would include offerings like Atlantis The Palm, Armani Hotel at Burj Khalifa, or The Ritz-Carlton Abu Dhabi, along with private airport transfers and VIP-style city tours. 'For adventure lovers, we suggest activities like sky diving, hot air balloon rides, or zip-lining at Jebel Jais — the UAE's highest mountain. Our team follows the latest trends, season offers, and guest reviews to ensure that every traveller gets a trip that matches their preferences — whether it's luxury, adventure, shopping or relaxation. This way, the holiday is not 'one size fits all', but instead feels unique and memorable for each visitor," said the managing director. Smarter campaigns The study also revealed that 41.7 per cent of users use search engines, 21 per cent engage with Telegram ads, and nearly 20 per cent rely on social media — making timing, placement, and content more critical than ever. Evgenii Pavlov, General Manager at Yango Ads MEA, said, 'With data-backed insights like these, UAE tourism operators, hotels, and resorts can run smarter campaigns to attract the right tourists, at the right time, with the right message.' Meanwhile, as travel preferences evolve, even owners of holiday homes are leveraging data-driven insights to craft personalised experiences that cater to the growing demand for luxury, privacy and exclusivity. Shilpa Mahtani, co-founder and managing director of bnbme holiday homes by Hoteliers said, 'We harness user data — including search history, location and demographics — to create highly tailored advertising campaigns showcasing Dubai's luxury offerings. Our personalisation strategies include premium preferences-based personalisation." "High demand for privacy and exclusivity drives us to promote villa-style accommodations, beachfront apartments, and residences with panoramic views of landmarks like the Burj Khalifa. Guests also seek bespoke concierge services, including private chefs, chauffeur-driven cars, yacht charters and desert safaris," she added. After premium preferences-based personalisation, the group focuses on experience-based personalisation. "We curate customised itineraries based on guest profiles — whether solo travellers, corporate visitors, honeymooners, or families — ensuring every aspect of their stay is aligned with their preferences and expectations,' added Mahtani.
