Mohamed Alaa, Staff Reporter

The Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship has confirmed that there is only one working week remaining to benefit from the grace period of exempting tourists from entry fees of their escorts.

The ICA in last July announced that tourists heading to the UAE this summer would be granted valuable facilities and incentives offered by the country; in particular exempting their escorts under 18 years from entry visa fees from 15 July until 15 September annually.

The ICA stated that such facilities include sons and daughters under 18 years, provided that they are accompanied by their parent/ parents who are coming to the country upon tourist visas, regardless of the validity term of the visa, either short or long.

The ICA stated that those willing to make use of such facilities can apply through the electronic channel of the ICA (https://smartservices.ica.gov.ae/echannels/web/client/default.html#/login?langar) or its smart application (ica uae echannels), within category of (family tourism visa) and filling parent details and adding sons and their details within the system which will inform the applicant within the period of applying such facilities that sons or daughters under 18 years are exempted from such fees.

The ICA noted that tourists willing to visit the UAE can provide their applications to obtain the family tourism visa through travel and tourism offices approved within their countries and offices of the national carriers in the country (Fly Emirates, Etihad Airways, Fly Dubai, Air Arabia) and make use of the exemption.

The ICA instructed its associates working at all ports of the country to ensure happiness of the country’s visitors and comers and offering quality service to the same; in particular to facilitate procedures, carrying out transactions as soon as possible, receiving them welcome and cheer up while receiving them, especially as they are making up the main interface of the country and the initial window which enable tourists to discover the cultural and humanitarian development of the country which shall be shaped in its first impression regarding its people and its openness on the different cultures of the world and its people.