Berlin International Travel and Tourism Exhibition

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) welcomes all visitors who wish to experience its atmosphere, attractions, heritage, cultural, and natural sights. The country also welcomes entrepreneurs, talented individuals, experts, and capital investors to work, reside, and invest in the country and take advantage of the opportunity for growth, creativity, and innovation.
The Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security invites those who wish to visit, reside, and work in the UAE to take advantage of the ease of procedures and facilities included in the integrated smart services system offered by the authority to all users.

The United Arab Emirates is a federal state consisting of seven emirates, with Abu Dhabi as the capital. It is located in Western Asia on the eastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula. The seven emirates are Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah, and Fujairah. The UAE was founded in 1971.
The official currency of the country is the dirham, abbreviated as AED or Dhs. It has been used as the currency of the UAE since 1973 and is divided into 100 fils. It is one of the most stable currencies in the world.
The UAE is a popular destination for family vacations and holidays, as it offers many attractive destinations for tourists such as skyscrapers, sandy beaches, historical sites, and more. It also provides culture lovers with many things to do and explore.

Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi is the capital of the UAE and the largest of the seven emirates. It consists of three main areas and cities: Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, and Al Dhafra. Abu Dhabi represents for 85% of the total area of the UAE and tops the list of the safest cities in the world. Abu Dhabi has achieved unprecedented development over the past 50 years.

Dubai
Dubai has established itself as a global commercial center and a major destination on the world tourism map. It’s serves as a global hub for trade and business, connected to a network of flights with all countries worldwide.

Sharjah
Sharjah with it’s deserts, beaches, and important historical sites, has been crowned the “Capital of Islamic Culture”, and “Unique and Distinguished Tourist Destination”, has also been chosen as the “Cultural Capital of the Arab World” by UNESCO. A number of its cities and villages are located on the eastern coast opposite the coast of Oman.

Ajman
Ajman hosts many archaeological sites dating back to prehistoric times, including historical forts and is known for its diverse nature of beaches, mountains, and valleys.

Umm Al Quwain
Umm Al Quwain covers important archaeological sites and it’s covered by mangrove trees for over 7 kilometers. Siniya Island is one of its largest islands, which forms a natural reserve for migratory birds in the relatively warm winter season.

Ras Al Khaimah
Ras Al Khaimah is distinguished by its captivating natural beauty, sprawling deserts, and towering mountains. Hosting significant archaeological sites dating back to the third millennium BC. It features Jebel Jais, the highest mountain in the UAE, and the sprawling palm tree plantations. It offers an authentic picture of Arab traditions and heritage and provides a wide range of recreational activities.

Fujairah
Fujairah is characterized by its mountainous nature, surrounded by the towering Hajar Mountains. And bosts a 70-kilometer-long sandy coastline it’s natural beauty welcomes visitors throughout the year due to the relatively lower temperatures during the summer season.

The former Emirates Identity Authority EIDA, was established on September 29, 2004. Since its inception, the Authority has been specialized in providing identity verification and confirmation services for individuals to federal and local government agencies.

In 2017, a decision was issued to change the entity’s name to “Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship” to add new responsibilities to its tasks, namely: nationality affairs, passports, and entry and residence of foreigners in the country, in addition to its responsibility for formulating the related policy and ensuring its implementation in accordance with the provisions of this decree, laws, regulations, and decisions in force in the state.

In 2021, a decision was issued to establish the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security, which constitutes a major and important turning point in the Authority’s work journey to also undertake other additional tasks such as strengthening the security of ports, borders, and free zones, and organizing and managing customs work in the country in accordance with international standards and security requirements.

The tourism sector in the UAE is one of the most important sectors supporting the national economy, contributing nearly 11% of the Gross Domestic product (GDP) annually. The National Tourism Strategy 2031 aims to continue enhancing the tourism sector in the country, to increase its contribution to the national economy to AED 450 billion, an annual increase of AED 27 billion, and to attract new investments worth AED 100 billion to the tourism sector in the country, and attract 40 million guests in hotel establishments by 2031.

The implementation of the National Tourism Strategy 2031 is carried out in cooperation and coordination between the Ministry of Economy and various local and federal agencies and institutions concerned with the tourism sector, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security, the Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates, the General Civil Aviation Authority, the Emirati airline companies, the World Tourism Organization, a number of global companies and the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre.

ITB Berlin is the world’s leading trade fair for the tourism industry, with a long and illustrious history dating back to its inaugural edition in 1966. The fair attracts over 180 countries from around the world and more than 10,000 exhibitors, including tourism companies, hotels, and other industry professionals, with a total attendance of approximately 160,000.

ITB Berlin serves as a major international platform for promoting tourist destinations and facilitating business deals between tour organizers, companies, hotels, and tourism service providers. It is also one of the largest platforms for sharing best practices, knowledge, data, and tourism trends from around the world.

The Federal Identity, Citizenship, Customs, and Port Security Authority is participating in the ITB Berlin International Travel Trade Fair, which will be held in the German capital from March 5 to 7, 2024.

At its platform within the UAE pavilion, the Authority will showcase the golden residency and multi-entry tourist visas offered by the Authority to residents of the United Arab Emirates and visitors from all over the world.

The Authority aims to highlight the UAE’s civilized image, which combines modernity, heritage, values, and traditions. It also aims to support the tourism sector in the UAE by creating and innovating a smart system of services for tourist visas and residency for those who wish to visit the country for tourism, work, and investment. Additionally, the Authority aims to attract capital, talent, skilled individuals, and experts.

The United Arab Emirates launched the golden residency service as a proactive step in 2019, marking a pioneering step locally, regionally, and internationally.

The Golden Residence targets exceptional individuals in entrepreneurship, investment, long-term professional experience, education, and talented individuals with technical skills, attracting them to live, work, and have permanently residence in the country.

Under this service, individuals can apply for nomination to obtain long-term stay of 5 or 10 years. This system allows foreign residents and their families to enjoy a long-term stay without the need for a guarantor within the country.

The Golden Residence supports the sustainable development journey in the country, whether in terms of attracting the necessary capital to establish projects and implement strategic plans or attracting the competencies and talents needed by the labour market in the coming years and decades. Moreover, it is of paramount importance in promoting tourism, work, and investment in the country by targeting celebrities in various fields.

The UAE’s Golden Residency program is distinguished by its ease of application and diverse service channels. Individuals who meet the eligibility criteria can apply directly through the Authority’s smart application “ICPUAE” and website: www.icp.gov.ae.

The Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security has insured to facilitate the residents’ access to the Golden Residence through the launch of “Your Golden Residence at one Touch” project, which is one of the Authority’s transformative projects for the year 2022.

The project includes all Golden Residence packages, offering a comprehensive experience from applying for a nomination or visa to modifying residency status, issuing and renewing residency permits and identity cards.

The project allows the targeted customers to obtain their Golden Residence through  simple and convenient process. This includes logging in using their digital ID card, registered email or through the Authority’s smart services system, selecting the desired package from the main menu, updating personal details if necessary, choosing the appropriate service, filling out and reviewing required information, submitting the application, and paying the required fees.

The Golden Residency program offers various categories catering to individuals with exceptional skills, talent, and leadership qualities in business endeavours. Some key categories include:

•  Golden Residency for Scientists: Granted to scientists and researchers with significant achievements and high impact in their field.
• Golden Residency for Specialists: Aimed at attracting skilled professionals with high educational qualifications and professional experience in diverse specialties, including medicine, engineering, technology, science, education, law, culture, and social work.
• Golden Residency for Exceptional Talents: Awarded to individuals with exceptional talent in fields critical to the nation, solely based on their talent.
• Golden Residency for Real Estate Investment: Granted to investors in the real estate sector upon purchasing a property with a minimum value of AED 2 million.
• Golden Residency for Entrepreneurs: Offered to entrepreneurs who own or have a partnership share in a small or medium-sized enterprise (SME) within the UAE, subject to specific terms and conditions outlined in the service card for this category.
• Golden Residency for Outstanding Students and Graduates: Designed to attract top graduates from the UAE’s best universities and the world’s top 100 universities to begin their professional careers in the country, based on specific criteria related to cumulative GPA, graduation year, and university ranking.

Individuals who meet the eligibility requirements and wish to apply for any of these Golden Residency categories can do via the Authority’s smart application “ICPUAE” and website: www.icp.gov.ae.

The UAE boasts significant cultural and historical landmarks, along with an attractive climate, particularly during winter. It is therefore an ideal destination for tourism enthusiasts. Consequently, the tourist visa is one of the most frequently used visas in the UAE, allowing individuals to visit the country, explore its landmarks and history, enjoy its climate, and experience life and work opportunities.

In addition to the standard tourist visa granted for visits with a designated tourism establishment in the UAE acting as the sponsor or host, a multi-entry tourist visa valid for five years without a sponsor has been introduced.

To cater to individuals seeking to visit the UAE on multiple occasions, the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship, Customs and Border Security offers the multiple-entry tourist visa. This visa allows holders to stay in the country for 90 consecutive days, with the possibility of extension for a similar period, not exceeding a total stay of 180 days per year, except in extraordinary circumstances.

To qualify for this visa, applicants must demonstrate a minimum balance of USD 4,000 or its equivalent in other currencies in their bank account for the six months preceding the application submission.

Individuals interested in visiting the UAE and experiencing its captivating tourist attractions and charming environment can apply for the tourist visa directly from anywhere via the Authority’s smart application “ICPUAE” and website: www.icp.gov.ae.

The “Afsh” system for declaring cash and equivalent financial instruments carried by travellers entering and exiting the UAE is an advanced electronic system that allows eligible individuals (both natural and legal persons) arriving and departing through the country’s customs ports to declare the cash, currencies, negotiable financial instruments, precious metals, and gemstones in their possession while traveling.

According to the system, any traveller entering or leaving the UAE who is over 18 years old can carry up to AED 60,000 or its equivalent in foreign currencies without declaring it. However, amounts exceeding this mentioned limit must be declared through the “Afsh” electronic system. The total amount carried by accompanying children and teenagers under 18 is added to that of their accompanying adult family member, with the combined total not exceeding AED 60,000 for both.