Dubai authorities return over 200 Pakistanis on new travel advisory

LAHORE: The Dubai Airports Authorities on Saturday deported around 200 Pakistani passengers over the failure of new travel conditions set by the UAE few days back.

The UAE authorities has issued the new travel advisory for all Pakistani passengers to show return tickets along with AED 2,000 and evidence of residence etc.

The people who didn’t have either were sent back to Pakistani via PIA flights. The passengers landed at the Lahore airport and were kept in the custody of airport authorities. They were released after they paid a fine of AED 1,000 per person.

The authorities reportedly seized the passports of the people who couldn’t pay the fine.

Many passengers complained that the airport authorities in Pakistan did not inform them of the change in policy.

Earlier, Pakistan flag carrier, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) had announced new guidelines for travelers intending to travel to United Arab Emirates (UAE) on visit visa.

As per new UAE rules, passengers traveling to UAE must possess UAE Currency, a return ticket and confirmed hotel booking and or local address of stay, PIA said in its advisory to UAE passengers.

Passengers travelling to UAE will have to show that they are in possession of at least 2,000 dirhams. In addition to the show money, a return ticket and a confirmed hotel booking or local stay address is now also a pre requisite to travel, the airline claimed.

All PIA Passengers are requested to ensure that these pre requisites are available with them and will be inquired upon at airports in Pakistan as well as UAE. Failing to present these documents may result in inconvenience and passengers’ inability to travel to UAE or deportation to Pakistan. PIA spokesman concluded.

The airline spokesman said most of the passengers were informed through different sources that the airline authorities in Pakistan will not take any responsibility of the Dubai authority to allow them (passenger) or deport them.