A Football Fan Receives The First Multiple-Entry: 90-Day Visa From Dubai

Dubai has started issuing special visas for football fans who are planning to be a part of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. This is a 90-day multiple-entry tourist visa for Hayya card holders. Hayya card is a fan pass issued by Qatar and those who have this card can acquire this visa for 100 dirhams. A Jordanian football fan, Mohammed Jalal, was the first recipient of the visa issued by the General Directorate of Residency and Foreign Affairs (GDRFA).

The GDRFA said in a statement that it expects to receive and process a large number of applications for the visa. The visa holders can stay in the UAE for 90 days with the option to make multiple entries. There is also an option to renew it for a similar period. UAE is extending its support for the FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar by hosting visitors to the event. 

Dubai Issues First Multi-Entry 90-Day Visa To A Football Fan

Director General of GDRFA, Lt Gen Mohamed Al Marri, said that Qatar is expected to receive around 1.4 million visitors during the World Cup period from November 21 to December 18. He said that GDRFA has completed preparations to provide various services for football fans.

There will also be preparations for those who wish to enjoy the New Year’s Eve celebrations in Dubai. There is a facility for fans to get their visas before reaching the country and can move between Dubai and Doha for matches. Mohamed Al Marri also added that the world cup is happening at a time at which the emirate has the most pleasant weather.

Dubai is putting forward a red carpet-welcome for football fans. According to sources from Associated Press, some soccer fan clubs have already said they will be commuting between Qatar and Dubai on the 45-minute long flights. The Dubai Sports council estimates that hundreds of thousands of fans could arrive in the city. Special fan zones have been set up across Dubai. To further cater to the needs of visitors, hotels have started offering attractive packages including facilities for stay, transport, and shuttle flights. At least 30 return flights will be operated by Budget airline Flydubai.

There will be a surge in demand for World Cup shuttle flights from the UAE after visa rules were relaxed, which allowed people without match tickets. Previously, only those with match tickets were allowed to enter Qatar. The Hayya card acts as a visa and fan ID. International fans with match tickets can now invite up to three ticketless guests into Qatar to experience fan zones and enjoy the World Cup atmosphere. The fee is five hundred dirhams for those who are 12 and above. Hayya applies to those aged 18 and above with official FIFA match tickets. Currently, there are no age restrictions for nonticket holders traveling as visitors.

Alan Holt, managing director of Expat Sport, said that relaxed visa rules have resulted in an increase in flight bookings. Expat Sport is the UAE’s exclusive sales agent for the FIFA World Cup 2022 Official Match Hospitality program. Lots of flights are booked with Flydubai and Qatar Airways.

There are only a few days left for Qatar World Cup 2022. The opening match will be between Qatar and Ecuador at Al Bayt Stadium on November 20. The world cup final match will be on December 18. With just a few more days to go, ticket sales are soaring. It is reported that around three million tickets are sold. The top ten nations purchasing tickets are Qatar, the US, Saudi Arabia, England, Mexico, UAE, Argentina, France, Brazil, and Germany.