Date:12/03/2003 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2003/03/12/stories/2003031203521200.htm

International

UAE to curb visit visas

DUBAI March 11. Unhappy with the increasing number of illegal immigrants within the country, the United Arab Emirates is planning to introduce curbs on visit visas for some nationalities, a top Interior Ministry official has said.

``There will be certain restrictions on issuing visit visas to some nationalities to limit the number of illegal immigrants,'' said Major-General Saif Al Shaafar, Assistant Undersecretary of the Ministry of Interior for Security Affairs. As most of the illegal immigrants are from Asia, the move is likely to be directed against them, observers said.

PTI