The United Arab Emirates (UAE) authorities have introduced a new visa program that allows residents to bring in their visitors for three months, travel agencies and residents have said.

Residents have been provided with the opportunity of hosting family and friends from other nations by issuing them visas valid for 90 days, in exchange for a refundable deposit of Dh1,000.

“I have applied for this visa for family members of two of my colleagues in the last month,” Khaleej Times quoted a Dubai travel agent as saying. “I approached the AMER centre in Karama near the post office, and the process was easy. However, as per my experience, the family members must be immediate blood relatives like mother, father or siblings.”

KV, a media representative of the Dubai travel firm, explained the total cost of the visa was Dh1,770: Dh1,000 was a refundable deposit while the Dh770 was administrative charge.

“The deposit was Dh1,000, and the visa with typing charges and service fee cost Dh770,” the travel agent said in his breakdown of the visa fee.

The visa application process has been limited by the UAE authorities to only individuals, as travel agents are currently not permitted to use the program.

“As of now, only individuals applying on the system can get these visas,” Khaleej quoted Afi Ahmed from Smart Travels to have said. “The individuals must apply for it online on the GDRFA website, on the app or through an Amer typing centre.”

The new program may be aimed at reducing crimes committed by Nigerians and other Africans who Emirati officials have repeatedly claimed to constitute security threats in their country.

Several Nigerians were detained last year as a result of their participation in a cult conflict in Sharjah between the Eiye and Aiye cult groups.

With the new visa, residents may now be responsible for the conduct of their visitors.