Italy is one of 30 European countries that will require travellers to apply for a visa online before their trip. Reuters
Italy is one of 30 European countries that will require travellers to apply for a visa online before their trip. Reuters
Italy is one of 30 European countries that will require travellers to apply for a visa online before their trip. Reuters
Italy is one of 30 European countries that will require travellers to apply for a visa online before their trip. Reuters

European visa pre-approval and €7 fees – will the EU's new rules for travellers take off?


Hayley Skirka
  • English
  • Arabic

With entry rules to the EU set to change for 1.4 billion people, the tourism industry is weighing up the pros and cons of the decision.

Here, The National speaks to travel booking platforms, market research companies and tourism bodies to analyse the move.

Introducing the Etias

UAE passport holders enjoy privileged status when it comes to travel, currently enjoying visa-free access to 179 countries, according to this year’s Henley Passport Index.

But that’s set to change as part of the new rules, which also affect arrivals from the UK and the US.

From mid-2024, non-EU travellers currently exempt from obtaining a visa to visit the Schengen area will have to pay a fee and apply for online travel authorisation before their trip.

Similar to the US's Esta programme, the new European scheme means non-EU travellers will have to fill in a form and pay €7 ($7.80) before entering Europe’s passport-free zone. The online service will apply to travellers between the ages of 18 and 70, and be valid for multiple visits of up to 90 days over a three-year period.

Dubbed the European Travel Information and Authorisation System, or Etias, the European Commission's new e-visa-style system will be required for travel to 30 countries across Europe, including Germany, Switzerland, Greece and France. The full list of countries is available here.

The system is being implemented as part of a broader strategy by the EU to “provide a seamless and digital travel experience, tighten up security and facilitate entry and exit across the region whilst raising much-needed revenue”, explains Caroline Bremner, head of travel research at Euromonitor International.

“The electronic scheme is also an attempt to remove confusion to travellers across the EU and Schengen zone where it is not always clear which countries belong to which,” she tells The National.

Impact on travel too early to call

Travel experts and industry insiders are divided over the effect on tourism and travellers.

Dubai company dnata, part of the Emirates group, says it is "too early for us to comment" at this stage.

Low-cost airline flydubai tells The National it recognises the coming change, but did not elaborate on how this might impact travel between the UAE and European nations.

“Flydubai follows the guidelines outlined by the relevant authorities with regard to the documentation passengers require for travel and we will follow the guidelines as they come into effect,” a representative adds.

Flydubai says it will continue to follow all visa requirements for the destinations it flies to. EPA
Flydubai says it will continue to follow all visa requirements for the destinations it flies to. EPA

However, additional fees and having to plan ahead could put some people off travelling, says Bremner.

“The introduction of the Etias travel authorisation is going to add a new complication to travelling to Europe for the countries that were previously visa-free," she says.

Despite this, the impact will be minimal, she believes.

“The majority of the EU’s visitors are intra-EU visitors," she adds. "Arrivals to Europe are not forecast to see a drop and will continue to grow at 17 per cent in 2024 to 785 million, thanks to Europe’s continuing appeal as a diverse destination for visitors despite challenges such as the war in Ukraine, the cost-of-living crisis and the new travel facilitation requirements.”

Known for its pristine beaches, traditional cuisine and cities filled with art and culture, Spain is a destination that is confident that new travel procedures won't negatively impact inbound travel.

Spain, home to one of the continent's busiest tourist cities Barcelona, will soon require visitors to apply for visas online. AFP
Spain, home to one of the continent's busiest tourist cities Barcelona, will soon require visitors to apply for visas online. AFP

“We don’t expect Etias to have a great impact on travel demand,” Daniel Rosado Bayon, director of Spain Tourism GCC, says. "It’s easy, not expensive and it will help to make the whole process at the border easier.

"This process already exists for other countries, such as the US, Canada or Australia, and it doesn’t deter people from travelling.

“The Arab heritage and the culture we share make Spain a destination that’s close to the hearts of people in the GCC."

He adds: "I don’t think this easy, inexpensive and fast process will get in the way for travellers."

UK to trial similar system for GCC travellers

Industry experts also suggest the scheme could simplify life for travellers.

Currently, many have to wait in long queues during peak travel times at EU border controls. With a pre-approved system in place, these procedures could become smoother and faster.

That’s something that Gavin Landry, international director of VisitBritain, is hoping for ahead of the UK rolling out a similar system later this year.

The UK's system will launch in October. PA
The UK's system will launch in October. PA

The UK's Electronic Travel Authorisation will launch in October with travellers from Qatar being the first to access online applications. It will then be rolled out across the GCC and, if deemed successful, the rest of the world.

“Any type of improvement on the border, or improved ways of getting into the country always has positive signs,” Landry says.

“A couple of years ago, when we set up e-gates for certain nationalities coming to the UK, we saw a spike in volume. When things are more seamless and frictionless for the traveller, the traveller responds,” he adds.

While the UK's ETA will be valid for two years, Europe's Etias has a longer validity and is not linked to one particular trip. This could provide travellers with the freedom needed to plan multiple trips to the continent, without worrying about additional paperwork and approval processes each time.

“The Etias lasts for three years and will help to boost short-stay leisure and domestic trips in Europe for those travellers willing to go through the process,” says Bremner, who backs the EU's move.

“With international tourism spending expected to exceed $1 trillion in Europe by 2028, the EU’s desire for a digital and seamless travel facilitation process is likely to pay off.”

Know more about the new Etias programme

First announced in 2016, Etias has been delayed several times, but is currently on track to start next year, although the exact date has yet to be confirmed.

In most cases, approval for travel is expected to be granted within minutes of online application, but travellers are advised to apply as far in advance as possible as some applications may take up to four days to process. Other applicants may also be asked to provide additional information or attend an interview, which could delay approval timing up to 30 days.

Approval is required for travel to 30 countries across Europe. Visitors heading to Ireland – also a member of the EU – do not need to apply for Etias as the country remains exempt, while Cyprus, Bulgaria and Romania – EU members that are not part of the Schengen area – will require the document.

No biometric information will be requested from travellers applying for Etias. Instead, holidaymakers will have to submit personal information, travel plans, details on any criminal convictions and list family ties with any European citizens.

Europe's new pre-approval system for travel will have an impact on countries' ratings in the Henley Passport Index. Fatima Al Marzooqi / The National
Europe's new pre-approval system for travel will have an impact on countries' ratings in the Henley Passport Index. Fatima Al Marzooqi / The National

When it launches, Europe's Etias programme will also have an impact on countries' ratings in the Henley Passport Index, which ranks the world’s passports according to the number of destinations holders can access without obtaining a prior visa.

“The introduction of Etias will have a significant effect on the visa-free scores, and hence the ranking, of the Henley Passport Index as our methodology is designed with the lived experience of the traveller in mind,” a representative for Henley & Partners, which compiles the data, says. "So any access that requires some form of pre-departure government approval is a scenario we would not consider to be visa-free."

Muslim Council of Elders condemns terrorism on religious sites

The Muslim Council of Elders has strongly condemned the criminal attacks on religious sites in Britain.

It firmly rejected “acts of terrorism, which constitute a flagrant violation of the sanctity of houses of worship”.

“Attacking places of worship is a form of terrorism and extremism that threatens peace and stability within societies,” it said.

The council also warned against the rise of hate speech, racism, extremism and Islamophobia. It urged the international community to join efforts to promote tolerance and peaceful coexistence.

If you go

The flights
Emirates and Etihad fly direct to Nairobi, with fares starting from Dh1,695. The resort can be reached from Nairobi via a 35-minute flight from Wilson Airport or Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, or by road, which takes at least three hours.

The rooms
Rooms at Fairmont Mount Kenya range from Dh1,870 per night for a deluxe room to Dh11,000 per night for the William Holden Cottage.

The specs: 2019 BMW X4

Price, base / as tested: Dh276,675 / Dh346,800

Engine: 3.0-litre turbocharged in-line six-cylinder

Transmission: Eight-speed automatic

Power: 354hp @ 5,500rpm

Torque: 500Nm @ 1,550rpm

Fuel economy, combined: 9.0L / 100km

'Gehraiyaan'
Director:Shakun Batra

Stars:Deepika Padukone, Siddhant Chaturvedi, Ananya Panday, Dhairya Karwa

Rating: 4/5

RACE SCHEDULE

All times UAE ( 4 GMT)

Friday, September 29
First practice: 7am - 8.30am
Second practice: 11am - 12.30pm

Saturday, September 30
Qualifying: 1pm - 2pm

Sunday, October 1
Race: 11am - 1pm

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Reddit

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The users of Reddit

Robinhood

A smartphone app for buying and selling shares

Short seller

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Short squeeze

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Naked short

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BUNDESLIGA FIXTURES

Saturday

Borussia Dortmund v Eintracht Frankfurt (5.30pm kick-off UAE)

Bayer Leverkusen v Schalke (5.30pm)

Wolfsburg v Cologne (5.30pm)

Mainz v Arminia Bielefeld (5.30pm)

Augsburg v Hoffenheim (5.30pm)

RB Leipzig v Bayern Munich (8.30pm)

Borussia Monchengladbach v Freiburg (10.30pm)

Sunday

VfB Stuttgart v Werder Bremen  (5.30pm)

Union Berlin v Hertha Berlin (8pm)

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What: The Al Burda Festival
When: November 14 (from 10am)
Where: Warehouse421,  Abu Dhabi
The Al Burda Festival is a celebration of Islamic art and culture, featuring talks, performances and exhibitions. Organised by the Ministry of Culture and Knowledge Development, this one-day event opens with a session on the future of Islamic art. With this in mind, it is followed by a number of workshops and “masterclass” sessions in everything from calligraphy and typography to geometry and the origins of Islamic design. There will also be discussions on subjects including ‘Who is the Audience for Islamic Art?’ and ‘New Markets for Islamic Design.’ A live performance from Kuwaiti guitarist Yousif Yaseen should be one of the highlights of the day. 

What drives subscription retailing?

Once the domain of newspaper home deliveries, subscription model retailing has combined with e-commerce to permeate myriad products and services.

The concept has grown tremendously around the world and is forecast to thrive further, according to UnivDatos Market Insights’ report on recent and predicted trends in the sector.

The global subscription e-commerce market was valued at $13.2 billion (Dh48.5bn) in 2018. It is forecast to touch $478.2bn in 2025, and include the entertainment, fitness, food, cosmetics, baby care and fashion sectors.

The report says subscription-based services currently constitute “a small trend within e-commerce”. The US hosts almost 70 per cent of recurring plan firms, including leaders Dollar Shave Club, Hello Fresh and Netflix. Walmart and Sephora are among longer established retailers entering the space.

UnivDatos cites younger and affluent urbanites as prime subscription targets, with women currently the largest share of end-users.

That’s expected to remain unchanged until 2025, when women will represent a $246.6bn market share, owing to increasing numbers of start-ups targeting women.

Personal care and beauty occupy the largest chunk of the worldwide subscription e-commerce market, with changing lifestyles, work schedules, customisation and convenience among the chief future drivers.

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Name: HyperSpace
 
Started: 2020
 
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
 
Based: Dubai, UAE
 
Sector: Entertainment 
 
Number of staff: 210 
 
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
What is hepatitis?

Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver, which can lead to fibrosis (scarring), cirrhosis or liver cancer.

There are 5 main hepatitis viruses, referred to as types A, B, C, D and E.

Hepatitis C is mostly transmitted through exposure to infective blood. This can occur through blood transfusions, contaminated injections during medical procedures, and through injecting drugs. Sexual transmission is also possible, but is much less common.

People infected with hepatitis C experience few or no symptoms, meaning they can live with the virus for years without being diagnosed. This delay in treatment can increase the risk of significant liver damage.

There are an estimated 170 million carriers of Hepatitis C around the world.

The virus causes approximately 399,000 fatalities each year worldwide, according to WHO.

 

Greatest Royal Rumble results

John Cena pinned Triple H in a singles match

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Braun Strowman won the 50-man Royal Rumble by eliminating Big Cass last

Our family matters legal consultant

Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

Where to buy art books in the UAE

There are a number of speciality art bookshops in the UAE.

In Dubai, The Lighthouse at Dubai Design District has a wonderfully curated selection of art and design books. Alserkal Avenue runs a pop-up shop at their A4 space, and host the art-book fair Fully Booked during Art Week in March. The Third Line, also in Alserkal Avenue, has a strong book-publishing arm and sells copies at its gallery. Kinokuniya, at Dubai Mall, has some good offerings within its broad selection, and you never know what you will find at the House of Prose in Jumeirah. Finally, all of Gulf Photo Plus’s photo books are available for sale at their show. 

In Abu Dhabi, Louvre Abu Dhabi has a beautiful selection of catalogues and art books, and Magrudy’s – across the Emirates, but particularly at their NYU Abu Dhabi site – has a great selection in art, fiction and cultural theory.

In Sharjah, the Sharjah Art Museum sells catalogues and art books at its museum shop, and the Sharjah Art Foundation has a bookshop that offers reads on art, theory and cultural history.

Sole survivors
  • Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
  • George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
  • Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
  • Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
French business

France has organised a delegation of leading businesses to travel to Syria. The group was led by French shipping giant CMA CGM, which struck a 30-year contract in May with the Syrian government to develop and run Latakia port. Also present were water and waste management company Suez, defence multinational Thales, and Ellipse Group, which is currently looking into rehabilitating Syrian hospitals.

Jetour T1 specs

Engine: 2-litre turbocharged

Power: 254hp

Torque: 390Nm

Price: From Dh126,000

Available: Now

Under 19 Cricket World Cup, Asia Qualifier

Fixtures
Friday, April 12, Malaysia v UAE
Saturday, April 13, UAE v Nepal
Monday, April 15, UAE v Kuwait
Tuesday, April 16, UAE v Singapore
Thursday, April 18, UAE v Oman

UAE squad
Aryan Lakra (captain), Aaron Benjamin, Akasha Mohammed, Alishan Sharafu, Anand Kumar, Ansh Tandon, Ashwanth Valthapa, Karthik Meiyappan, Mohammed Faraazuddin, Rishab Mukherjee, Niel Lobo, Osama Hassan, Vritya Aravind, Wasi Shah

Liverpool's all-time goalscorers

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Roger Hunt 285
Mohamed Salah 250
Gordon Hodgson 241
Billy Liddell 228

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EA Sports FC 26

Publisher: EA Sports

Consoles: PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Series X/S

Rating: 3/5

'Top Gun: Maverick'

Rating: 4/5

 

Directed by: Joseph Kosinski

 

Starring: Tom Cruise, Val Kilmer, Jennifer Connelly, Jon Hamm, Miles Teller, Glen Powell, Ed Harris

 

 

 

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Our legal columnist

Name: Yousef Al Bahar

Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994

Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers

The Brutalist

Director: Brady Corbet

Stars: Adrien Brody, Felicity Jones, Guy Pearce, Joe Alwyn

Rating: 3.5/5

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Generation Start-up: Awok company profile

Started: 2013

Founder: Ulugbek Yuldashev

Sector: e-commerce

Size: 600 plus

Stage: still in talks with VCs

Principal Investors: self-financed by founder

STAGE 4 RESULTS

1 Sam Bennett (IRL) Deceuninck-QuickStep - 4:51:51

2 David Dekker (NED) Team Jumbo-Visma

3 Caleb Ewan (AUS) Lotto Soudal 

4 Elia Viviani (ITA) Cofidis

5 Matteo Moschetti (ITA) Trek-Segafredo

General Classification

1 Tadej Pogacar (SLO) UAE Team Emirates - 12:50:21

2 Adam Yates (GBR) Teamn Ineos Grenadiers - 0:00:43

3 Joao Almeida (POR) Deceuninck-QuickStep - 0:01:03

4 Chris Harper (AUS) Jumbo-Visma - 0:01:43

5 Neilson Powless (USA) EF Education-Nippo - 0:01:45

Company profile

Date started: 2015

Founder: John Tsioris and Ioanna Angelidaki

Based: Dubai

Sector: Online grocery delivery

Staff: 200

Funding: Undisclosed, but investors include the Jabbar Internet Group and Venture Friends

Dhadak

Director: Shashank Khaitan

Starring: Janhvi Kapoor, Ishaan Khattar, Ashutosh Rana

Stars: 3

Why your domicile status is important

Your UK residence status is assessed using the statutory residence test. While your residence status – ie where you live - is assessed every year, your domicile status is assessed over your lifetime.

Your domicile of origin generally comes from your parents and if your parents were not married, then it is decided by your father. Your domicile is generally the country your father considered his permanent home when you were born. 

UK residents who have their permanent home ("domicile") outside the UK may not have to pay UK tax on foreign income. For example, they do not pay tax on foreign income or gains if they are less than £2,000 in the tax year and do not transfer that gain to a UK bank account.

A UK-domiciled person, however, is liable for UK tax on their worldwide income and gains when they are resident in the UK.

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Living in...

This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.

Results

5pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 1,600m; Winner: Nadhra, Fabrice Veron (jockey), Eric Lemartinel (trainer)

5.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,400m; Winner: AF Dars, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel

6pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,400m; Winner: AF Musannef, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel

6.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,200m; Winner: AF Taghzel, Malin Holmberg, Ernst Oertel

7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 2,200m; Winner: M’Y Yaromoon, Khalifa Al Neyadi, Jesus Rosales

7.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh100,000 (PA) 1,400m; Winner: Hakeem, Jim Crowley, Ali Rashid Al Raihe

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TO A LAND UNKNOWN

Director: Mahdi Fleifel

Starring: Mahmoud Bakri, Aram Sabbah, Mohammad Alsurafa

Rating: 4.5/5

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Who's who in Yemen conflict

Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government

Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council

Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south

Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory

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The Details

Kabir Singh

Produced by: Cinestaan Studios, T-Series

Directed by: Sandeep Reddy Vanga

Starring: Shahid Kapoor, Kiara Advani, Suresh Oberoi, Soham Majumdar, Arjun Pahwa

Rating: 2.5/5 

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'The worst thing you can eat'

Trans fat is typically found in fried and baked goods, but you may be consuming more than you think.

Powdered coffee creamer, microwave popcorn and virtually anything processed with a crust is likely to contain it, as this guide from Mayo Clinic outlines: 

Baked goods - Most cakes, cookies, pie crusts and crackers contain shortening, which is usually made from partially hydrogenated vegetable oil. Ready-made frosting is another source of trans fat.

Snacks - Potato, corn and tortilla chips often contain trans fat. And while popcorn can be a healthy snack, many types of packaged or microwave popcorn use trans fat to help cook or flavour the popcorn.

Fried food - Foods that require deep frying — french fries, doughnuts and fried chicken — can contain trans fat from the oil used in the cooking process.

Refrigerator dough - Products such as canned biscuits and cinnamon rolls often contain trans fat, as do frozen pizza crusts.

Creamer and margarine - Nondairy coffee creamer and stick margarines also may contain partially hydrogenated vegetable oils.

Timeline

2012-2015

The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East

May 2017

The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts

September 2021

Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act

October 2021

Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence 

December 2024

Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group

May 2025

The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan

July 2025

The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan

August 2025

Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision

October 2025

Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange

November 2025

180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE

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SCORES

Yorkshire Vikings 144-1 in 12.5 overs
(Tom Kohler 72 not out, Harry Broook 42 not out)
bt Hobart Hurricanes 140-7 in 20 overs
(Caleb Jewell 38, Sean Willis 35, Karl Carver 2-29, Josh Shaw 2-39)

A MINECRAFT MOVIE

Director: Jared Hess

Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa

Rating: 3/5

The alternatives

• Founded in 2014, Telr is a payment aggregator and gateway with an office in Silicon Oasis. It’s e-commerce entry plan costs Dh349 monthly (plus VAT). QR codes direct customers to an online payment page and merchants can generate payments through messaging apps.

• Business Bay’s Pallapay claims 40,000-plus active merchants who can invoice customers and receive payment by card. Fees range from 1.99 per cent plus Dh1 per transaction depending on payment method and location, such as online or via UAE mobile.

• Tap started in May 2013 in Kuwait, allowing Middle East businesses to bill, accept, receive and make payments online “easier, faster and smoother” via goSell and goCollect. It supports more than 10,000 merchants. Monthly fees range from US$65-100, plus card charges of 2.75-3.75 per cent and Dh1.2 per sale.

2checkout’s “all-in-one payment gateway and merchant account” accepts payments in 200-plus markets for 2.4-3.9 per cent, plus a Dh1.2-Dh1.8 currency conversion charge. The US provider processes online shop and mobile transactions and has 17,000-plus active digital commerce users.

• PayPal is probably the best-known online goods payment method - usually used for eBay purchases -  but can be used to receive funds, providing everyone’s signed up. Costs from 2.9 per cent plus Dh1.2 per transaction.

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In numbers: China in Dubai

The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000

Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000

Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000

Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000

Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent

Updated: July 26, 2023, 2:58 PM