UAE authorities have introduced a multiple entry visa for businessmen, property investors and cruise passengers, a plan that has been under discussion for almost three years. The previous visa process imposed financial burden as well as a lot of documentation procedures for the tourists of 32 nationalities who did not automatically receive visas on arrival.

The Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) in Dubai, last week started a 14-day program of interesting activities at Al Shindagha and Hatta heritage areas as part of Eid Al Adha celebrations.

The Dubai Metro is celebrating in September 2012, its third anniversary amid considerable success indicators of operational efficiency in terms of complying with on-time journey schedules as well as the highest international safety standards, and the metro ridership which clocked 184 million passengers from the start of operation through the end of August 2012.

The Roads & Transport Authority (RTA) announced the disbursement of 4.25 million dirham to owners of 17 houses bordering Al Rashidiya Metro Depot believed to have been affected by the metro operation and maintenance works at the Depot, at a rate of 250 thousand dirham per house.

Despite tourism figures highlighting a decline in UK outbound travel during quarter two of 2012, Dubai continued to perform strongly as a destination, reporting an 11 per cent increase in guest numbers. According to the latest report from the department of tourism and commerce marketing, hotel and apartment bookings in Dubai were up to 170,452 from 154,180 during the same period of 2011.

The Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing in Dubai, in a bid to boom tourism and attract more tourists to the emirate this summer, has launched a 107-day initiative themed ‘Dubai, my destination this summer’.