Category Archives: travel

The Sultanate of Oman has recently released an official circular allowing all residents in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries to enter the Sultanate of Oman without a visa.

Visa Free To Oman: The new circular from the Directorate General of Passports and Residence regarding the visa of residents of GCC countries stated

1. All residents of the GCC countries have the right to enter the Sultanate of Oman for all commercial professions.





2. It is not required for people to come from the country of residence. For example, a resident of any GCC country is not required to arrive directly from that GCC country to avail this facility. It is permitted at any time and from any destination they arrive from.





3. For the application of what is stated in items 1 and 2 above, it is required that the residence visa be valid in the GCC for a period of no less than three months.





4. The above mentioned procedures referred to are applied, taking into account the importance of following the policy of granting visas to restricted nationalities.

Visa Free To Oman: What is GCC ?

The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is a political, economic, social, and regional organization according to its charter. It is a regional co-operation system between the Arab States of the Gulf created to meet the challenges imposed by surrounding circumstances. The geographical proximity of the GCC states and the similarity of their regulations and economic and social conditions were additional factors that helped in the establishment of the GCC.

The GCC was established on 4 February 1981 and held its first summit meeting on 25 May 1981 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Summits have been held every year since then.

Visa Free To Oman For Member States of the GCC Residents Below:

1. Bahrain

2. Kuwait

3. Oman

4. Qatar

5. Kingdom Of Saudi Arabia

6. United Arab Emirates

Earlier, eligible GCC residents had to apply for an e-visa through the official government portal prior to their travel to Oman.

You are reading: Visa free to oman

You can also read: New UAE Golden Visa, Green Visa, long-term visit visa rules come into effect 3/10/22

However, to be eligible for visa free to Oman, the GCC residence visa must be valid for a period of no less than three (3) months.

Oman’s airports authority confirmed that all GCC residents have the right to enter the Sultanate for commercial professions.

It marks a change in entry rules – and opens the door to greater cooperation between states in the region. Crucially the Oman visa-free entry rules specify that you don’t have to come from the GCC nation concerned, just that you have to be a resident.

As stated by the authorities, the new rule is applicable across all commercial professions at any time, regardless of a traveler's point of departure. Furthermore, residents are not required to arrive directly from their country of residence to enjoy this benefit. The rule will be applicable and they will be permitted entry at any time and from any destination they arrive from.

You are reading: Visa free to oman

You can also read: New UAE Golden Visa, Green Visa, long-term visit visa rules come into effect 3/10/22

Visa Free To Oman; To make your trip a truly memorable exercise in cultural exchange and mutual respect, here are some things to know before you go to Oman. 

Expect to spend time outdoors

The most enjoyable experiences in Oman are outdoors, from gentle walks through palm plantations and watching nesting turtles on the beach to scuba diving in thriving marine reserves. 

You are likely to spend a significant amount of time on road trips to get to historic medieval forts, charming fishing towns, picturesque tidal lagoons and freshwater pools hidden away in the valleys. 

Wild camping is allowed, and opportunities to do so abound around the country. Pack comfortable clothing suitable for the outdoors, a tent and a sleeping bag.  

Learn local greetings 

Omanis are friendly, hospitable and courteous, and these qualities are likely to permeate every interaction that you’ll have as a visitor. In Oman, conversations, however brief, and whether between strangers or friends, always begin with a proper greeting, usually “as salam alaykum” which translates to “peace be upon you.”

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DUBAI MIRACLE GARDEN Each season, as the weather begins to cool at the onset of winter, the gates reopen at Dubai Miracle Garden. With more than 150 million flowers in full bloom, this 72,000-sq-m paradise has flowered into one of the region’s most picturesque, sweet-scented destinations since it first opened nearly nine years ago – fittingly, on Valentine’s Day.

HILL TOP

The vibrant flowers lend a sense of verticality to Dubai Miracle Garden. Visitors navigate a wonderful passage that takes them to a lower part of the garden. From this vantage point, you can enjoy a unique perspective on the hill, with its colourful flowers rising from the bottom to the higher points. Up here, Dubai Miracle Garden looks like a valley of wonder. The surrounding multi-coloured petals and trees are accompanied by a number of coffee shops, as well as an ice cream bar. It’s an ideal spot for a family photo or couple’s selfie – with a warm coffee! Try different angles to see how much of this special Dubai flower garden you can capture.

FLORAL DESIGNS

The colors, designs and structure of our 3D floral characters are a testament to our team’s craft for the visitors of the region’s most popular flower garden. We reinvigorated the concept by beautifully merging these characters with vibrant flowers and giving them a remarkable look, as well as unique designs. From giant floral mushrooms and humanoid ants with flowery thoraxes to rose-laden swans and flower-powered cars, our team’s imagination knows no bounds, and these attractions have proven a long-time favourite at Dubai Miracle Garden.

SUNFLOWER FIELD

As their name suggests, sunflowers love the sun. In fact, they need it so badly that they actually turn to face it when they’re young.

It’s only fitting, then, that sunflowers look their finest on bright, sunny days. Their yellow petals absorb and reflect light beautifully and provide a natural, stunning background to any photos, whether you’re taking them with a pro-grade DSLR or a mid-range smartphone.

The effect is multiplied further when you look at a field packed with thousands of them. Did you know that a sunflower itself isn’t just one flower, but thousands of little ones? That’s why the big brown bit at their centre is so fuzzy – it’s the feeling of many little flowers on your fingers!

EMIRATES A380

With its unique, larger-than-life double-decker design, the Airbus A380 is one of the most loved super jumbo jets in the world – and no airline has more of them than Emirates, Dubai’s flagship carrier. We decided to honour the skies’ most impressive passenger vehicle in the most natural way we could: botanically. That’s why we collaborated with Emirates Airline to build the world’s largest floral installation – a life-size version of the Emirates A380. Set in the heart of the world’s largest flower garden, our A380 is covered in more than 500,000 fresh flowers and living plants. Built four years ago, it’s the biggest structure ever built at the garden and even holds a Guinness World Record. No wonder that the A380 is one of our most popular attractions.

SMURFS VILLAGE

Now in its majestic tenth year, the world’s largest natural flower garden unveils a new attraction that kids and kids-at-heart will surely adore. Dubai Miracle Garden is proud to announce the launch of its all-new Smurfs Village for the winter season, where the world of the beloved blue creatures will be displayed as delightful landscape arrangements, in a deal brokered by IMG. A forest of mushroom houses awaits the residents and tourists alike as they explore one of the city’s most visited destinations.
Based on the Belgian comics and well-acclaimed movie and television franchise, The Smurfs are small, blue creatures who live in a community of mushroom-shaped houses in their own harmonious village. The dynamic spectacle of display at Dubai Miracle Garden will feature four different areas including the Smurf Village, Smurf Activity Area, Smurf Topiaries, and another Guinness World of Record set to break, giving residents of Dubai something to truly look forward to this new season.
Guests will be transported to the world of the Smurfs as they enter a village of the loveable blue creatures. Dubai Miracle Garden’s Smurfs Village will feature exciting surprises, structures, and designs taking inspiration from the well-loved characters and their dwellings. A whole section of the garden will be transformed with special areas and zones for the visitors along with a stretch of vibrant and fascinating natural colorful flowers and plants. Guests can revel in extraordinary pathways displaying marvelous designs and landscapes that cannot be seen anywhere else. Visitors are in for a treat with some surprise characters and spectacular shows as the evening sets in.

FLORAL CLOCK

Time is a funny thing – we love to worry about it, and often feel like there’s never enough. While we usually look at our phone or wrist to check it, sometimes it’s nice to see it from a different vantage point. Dubai Miracle Garden offers one, in the form of a beautiful 15-metre floral clock. It’s made of real plants and flowers, whose designs we change according to the season – something particularly relevant to the shifting sands of time, daylight hours and the weather. The floral clock’s mechanical parts were brought in from the US, while our own in-house landscaping whizzes, Miracle Garden Landscaping, conceptualized its stunning design.

UMBRELLA TUNNEL

We’ve got more than one cool, colourful passage at Dubai Miracle Garden. Our Umbrella Passages are one of the most interesting, creatively designed spaces at the garden. We made the ceiling out of upside-down umbrellas, arranged in rings that are separated by bands of flowers, which have been arranged to match the colours of each umbrella section. Hanging green plants between sections of the ceiling cultivate a rainforest vibe. These passages aren’t simply made for walking, though. There are socially distanced chairs and tables that offer yet another spot to enjoy a meal from one of our many F&B options, sip on a coffee and breathe in the floral scents or even just enjoy a brief break from the walking.

LAKE PARK

Water and flowers are a wonderful combination, and you can see it come to life at our Lake Park. The scene created by the reflection of floral villas and 3D flower-laden models against the blue sky results in a sensational explosion of purple, green, red, pink, orange and blue hues of colour. It’s the perfect place to set your smartphone to pro or HDR mode and capture a fully saturated snap with your friends, family or special someone. With waterside creature models sitting next to sea travel vessels, all bound by Dubai Miracle Garden’s floral themes, the Lake Park captures every aspect of H2O and gives it a flowery makeover.

FLOATING LADY

The newest attraction at Miracle Garden, the Floating Lady lies in the air, arms outstretched without a care in the world as her long hair dangles to the ground.

Her dress is the star of the show. Its red and white petunias flow down from her horizontal position high on up above a field of flowers, giving an ethereal illusion that she has slowly been summoned forth to the sky by some mysterious ancient power.

In the background, you can see the spires of the Floral Castle in the middle distance. Could the magnificent fortress have once been this fair maiden’s home?

EXPLORE DUBAI MIRACLE GARDEN

Promising a full bloom in fun and celebrations, Dubai Miracle Garden - the world's largest natural flower garden - have a variety of new and exciting attractions and activities each season for the people of all ages.

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Global Village reopens on Tuesday with an array of new attractions, shows and additional amenities that will make visiting the wildly popular family-friendly destination much easier.

Last season, it had a record 7.8 million guests visit during the six months it was operational, including an extended period, as it stayed open an extra four weeks until May 7.

This year marks its 27th season, with 27 pavilions representing more than 80 cultures from around the world.

Here's everything you need to know about Global Village's 2022 season.

When does Global Village reopen?

The attraction will reopen to the public on Tuesday at 6pm and run until April next year. A specific closing date has yet to be announced.

What pavilions and attractions will be there?

The pavilions, each themed according to a different nation or culture, are a star attraction at Global Village.

The pavilions confirmed for season 27 are the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Afghanistan, Africa, Americas, China, Egypt, Europe, India, Iran, Japan, South Korea, Lebanon, Morocco, Pakistan, Palestine, Syria, Thailand, Turkey, Yemen and Russia.

New for the 27th season are the Oman and Qatar pavilions.

Two pavilions, Al Sana'a and Khalifa Foundation, will also return, with UAE entrepreneurs showcasing their businesses.

A new concept, Road of Asia, will be a pedestrian street with 43 kiosks, offering food and products from countries not represented in the pavilions.

The 13 countries to be featured here include Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Cambodia, Malaysia, Brunei, Laos, Vietnam, Nepal, Bhutan and the Philippines.

There will also be a new haunted house, a Big Balloon experience and a Heroes Gallery, an exhibition inspired by superheroes and movie memorabilia.

What shows can visitors see during season 27?

Global Village has revealed a packed new season line-up, featuring more than 400 performers from around the world. This includes more than 200 performances each night.

Putting on the Glitz will bring jazz music to the theme park, while London Calling takes music-lovers through nostalgic songs from the 1960s and punk-rock trends to top tunes of today.

Clowns to the Rescue is a group of performers from Colombia, while Bank Heist is a slapstick comedy troupe.

Enter Loud House for a big Bollywood soap opera-style show. Skyline is a showcase of music, style, dance and light that will also transport fans to the heart of Bollywood come evening.

V.Unbeatable, a dance crew from Mumbai that won season two of America's Got Talent: The Champions in 2020, will perform on the Main Stage from January 4 for a month.

Filipino troupe Urban Crew, who competed on the latest season of America's Got Talent, will return to Global Village to showcase their acrobatic skills all season.

Another international ensemble back by popular demand is Colombian Aaijaa, a group of young percussionists setting the beat for the evenings.

Global Village favourites making a return include The Wonderers — Ozka, Waleef and Zoya, who bring a new production to the Kids Theatre called The Mystery of the Golden Rock.

Last year's new attraction, the Peter Rabbit Adventure Zone, will also return, and the Octonauts are back for another season.

Ben & Holly, and PJ Masks, will host their own shows, and there will be a sequel to Aqua Action, a water-based stunt show that will bring new fire effects, LED car scenes, high-powered street bikes and a big monster truck.

Amenities being introduced this season

A third entrance called Happiness Gate is being introduced to help stem traffic flow and ensure shorter walking distances from the car parks. It will also have valet parking.

Happiness Street has been extended, with a new layout giving guests plenty of room to discover more street food.

Cabanas will be available to book this year for groups of up to eight people. It allows people to book a base to return to throughout their visit and have a private butler on hand.

There will also be more information counters, revamped prayer rooms, more vending machines at entry points and extra lockers for guests.

A new range of branded merchandise and souvenirs to take home have also been created for this season.

What are opening hours?

Global Village is open from 4pm to midnight from Sunday to Wednesday and 4pm to 1am from Thursday to Saturday.

How to get there

Global Village is located on Exit 37 of Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road (311) in Dubailand. It is about a 20-minute drive from Dubai Marina, and a 25-minute drive from Downtown Dubai.

Ticket prices
Ticket prices start from Dh18 this season for tickets bought online, while they're Dh20 at the gate from Sunday to Thursday. On other days, it's Dh22.5 online and Dh25 at the gate.

New ticket options are being introduced for season 27. There's the Value ticket, valid from Sunday to Thursday, excluding public holidays, and the Any Day ticket gives guests the flexibility to attend on any day, including public holidays.

Entry is free for children under the age of 3 and senior citizens aged 65 and above, as well as people of determination.

Tuesdays are reserved for ladies and families only, except for on public holidays.

Tickets bought on the mobile app or website are discounted by 10 per cent.

Opening hours
Global Village is open from 4pm to midnight from Sunday to Wednesday and 4pm to 1am from Thursday to Saturday.
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More information is available at Gatewayz.co

March saw the end of six glorious months of Expo 2020 Dubai, which witnessed millions of visitors all over the globe flock to Dubai to witness the 6-month mega event. World-class music, sporting events, stunning pavilions and everyday family-friendly entertainment kept visitors hooked to Expo 2020. But now that the Expo is over, what does the future of the world fair look like? Well, we have good news for you. Expo 2020 Dubai has now been revamped as ‘Expo City Dubai’ officially opening its door to visitors since 1 October 2022.

Here’s everything you need to know about this new city and what it promises to offer its visitors.

Expo City Dubai opening

Dubai has transformed the Expo site into a brand new destination, Expo City Dubai. The new destination will play a vital role in the development of Dubai 2040, a comprehensive master plan focused on the sustainable urban development of Dubai. Strategically located between Abu Dhabi and Dubai, Expo City will be one of the five urban centres pinpointed in the master plan. The 4.38-square-kilometre site will cater to visitors and tenants who will live in one of the 2,000 apartments.

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, encapsulated the spirit of the upcoming destination, describing it as “a city that represents the most beautiful ambitions of Dubai, Expo City Dubai will be an environmentally-friendly city, one friendly to families, to the economy, and future generations.”

The primary goal behind the initiative is to enhance people’s happiness and quality of life and reinforce Dubai as a global destination for citizens, residents and visitors alike.

Sustainability and eco-friendly 

With a sharp focus on sustainability, nearly 80 percent of Expo-built infrastructure will be retained and repurposed in the new city. Other highlights include:

• No single-use plastic.





• LEED-certified buildings.





• A sustainable community that prioritizes the environment’s positive impact on human wellness.

Care has been put to ensure that the city is human-centric, accessible only by pedestrians with no cars or heavy vehicles, thereby carrying forward the sustainability legacy of Expo 2020. Expo City Dubai would be environment-friendly with buggies to transport visitors. The development shall have cycling tracks, running tracks and more than 45,000 sqm of parks and gardens.

Expo attractions

The Al Wasl Dome, the world’s largest 360-degree projection screen, has come back to life, ushering in the grand opening of Expo City Dubai. Garden in the Sky, a rotating observation tower that lifts visitors 55 meters above the site for a panoramic view, has also continued to host guests. Expo’s iconic and surreal water feature, which became a popular spot for people to cool down during scorching temperatures, is also open to the public.

A paid-for attraction pass has been launched to give visitors access to these experiences.

Expo Pavilions 

Since 1 September, visitors have been given access to two Expo City pavilions – Terra, The Sustainability Pavilion and Alif, The Mobility Pavilion. The two pavilions offer visitors interactive educational experiences, including science, technology, engineers, arts, mathematics and culture. Visitors can also access the rotating observation tower – Garden in the Sky attraction.

From 1 October 2022, visitors can also explore the Expo City pavilions and attractions such as the Al Wasl Plaza and ‘Surreal’ the cascading waterfall.

The Women’s Pavilion will continue to show how women have contributed to societies worldwide and will focus on driving gender equality and women empowerment. The Vision pavilion will honour the life and vision of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai. 

The Opportunity Pavilion, which attracted large crowds for its innovative displays on water, food and energy, will be transformed into the Expo 2020 Dubai Museum. It will highlight the history and impact of world expos and celebrate the success of the six-month event held in Dubai.

Visitors can also expect the return of popular pavilions such as the KSA pavilion and the ‘falcon-inspired’ UAE Pavilion that will re-open soon. Country pavilions of Australia, Egypt, India, Pakistan, Luxembourg and Morocco will be re-purposed; stay tuned for upcoming announcements.

Expo City Dubai opening date

Expo City Dubai has officially opened its doors to visitors on Saturday, 1 October 2022.

Expo City Dubai entry fee and tickets

Entry to the Expo district itself will be free but you will need a paid visitor pass to enter the pavilions. Visitors can now purchase tickets online at the Expo City Dubai official website or at the four box offices at Expo City that have started from 1 September 2022.

Currently, visitors can purchase tickets for the following pavilions in Expo City Dubai:

• Terra (the sustainability pavilion) – AED 52





• Alif (the mobility pavilion) – AED 52





• Garden in the Sky – AED 31





• Women’s Pavilion – AED 52





• Vision Pavilion – AED 52





• Carousel Around the World – AED 21

From 1 October, you can purchase the following passes to visit the Expo City attractions:

One-day pass: The one-day attraction pass is available online and grants visitors access to the Vision Pavilion, Women’s Pavilion, as well as Terra, Alif, Sustainability and Mobility pavilions. The pass is priced at Dhs120 and will grant visitors access to the 4 pavilions. A few more attractions will later be added to the day pass.

Individual pavilion pass: Visitors who want to visit individual pavilions can purchase the individual pavilion pass that are priced at Dhs50 per pavilion per person.

School groups: The Expo City will also welcome school groups, with special programs offered exclusively to the educational community. General entry to the Expo City is free of cost for booked school groups. School group journeys with workshops and shows must be booked at least 2 weeks in advance.

Children aged 12 and under and people of determination can enter the pavilions free of charge but must obtain a complimentary pass at any one of the ticketing booths at Expo City Dubai.

Expo City Dubai location and opening hours

If you’re driving to Expo City, you can reach there from all major roads. Expo City Dubai has 3 main entrances which are a 20-minute drive from Dubai Marina. You can follow the signs for any one of the four designated parking zones: Opportunity, Mobility, Sustainability or DEC parking.

If you’re travelling by public transport such as the Metro in Dubai, the Metro Red Line will take you from the city directly to the entrance of Expo City Dubai. Taxis or cabs can be booked online using Careem, Uber or S’hail apps.

Expo City pavilions are open daily from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm; while some attractions such as the Surreal water feature and Al Wasl Plaza will be open 24/7.

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