World Travel Market London 2024

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.

The home of the world’s travel trade

World Travel Market London is home to the world’s travel trade – the most influential travel and tourism event globally.

WTM London brings together the international leisure travel community; providing inspiration, education, sourcing, and benchmarking to travel professionals while providing exhibitors a place to do business and showcase their services to the international press.​

In 2023, WTM welcomed over 40,000 professionals from 184 countries. WTM is the easiest, most resourceful place in travel to get networked, saving time, money, and effort on the way.

The Federal Identity, Citizenship, Customs, and Port Security Authority is participating in the WTM London, which will be held in the German capital from 5 – 7 November 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.

Overview of the Golden Visa

The “Golden Visa” is a smart service provided by the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs, and Port Security. It allows eligible individuals to apply for nomination to obtain a long-term residency visa ranging from 5 to 10 years. The Golden Residency system allows expatriates and their families to live, work, and study in the UAE with long-term residency without needing a local sponsor. The residency is automatically renewable and plays a vital role in attracting talented individuals, entrepreneurs, investors, and specialists, thereby supporting the growth and success of businesses in the country.

The Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs, and Port Security provides all necessary information through its official website “www.icp.gov.ae” and its smart app “ICP UAE.” This includes a service guide with simple and clear steps for submitting applications, starting with submitting a request via the authority’s platforms, filling in the required data, attaching necessary documents, and ending with paying service fees electronically.

The Golden Visa includes several categories for individuals with skills and expertise. The main categories include:

Golden Visa for scientists and researchers with significant achievements in their fields.

Golden Visa for specialists, targeting skilled professionals with educational qualifications and expertise in medicine, engineering, technology, education, law, culture, and other fields.

Golden Visa for exceptional talents granted to individuals with outstanding abilities in areas that are important to the country.

Golden Visa for real estate investors who own property valued at no less than AED 2 million.

Golden Visa for entrepreneurs with pioneering projects or partnerships in the UAE’s small and medium enterprise sector.

Golden Visa for the frontline medical and health workforce.

Golden Visa for humanitarian pioneers, especially those excelling in voluntary and humanitarian work.

Golden visa for top-performing students and graduates from the UAE’s best universities and the world’s top 100 universities, based on specific GPA and graduation year requirements.

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.