Is it worth me getting a new passport ?

Question

Hi all.

Im going to go to Dubai next year but on my passport i have 3 stamps of Israel from Border check.

I asked this question about a month back and the majority of people said i would be fine with my current passport, but recently one my friends went to a travel agent and they were reccomended not to go with Israel stamped on their passport.

I checked the embassy website and they said stamps of Israel are fine, but is it really worth the risk ?

Thanks

Answer 1

Technically speaking, if you are not a citizen of the United Arab Emirates, then you have no right to enter the UAE at all. It is up to the descretion of the immigration officer on whether to issue you an entry visa or not. There are many stories on the web about people who haven't had any trouble at all entering Dubai with several Israeli stamps in their passport, so long as your passport isn't Israeli. Sometimes you can be refused entry into Arab nations if your passport was issued in Tel Aviv by your embassy. This is because it is a tell-tale sign that you permanently live in Israel.

But unlike some other Middle Eastern nations, the UAE is not very strict about tourist trips to Israel. If you are worried about being refused entry, you can apply for a second pasport. The US government allows citizens who have traveled to Israel and are traveling to the Middle East a second passport. These passports are usually slightly cheaper than a new passport as they are only valid for a short period (2 years I think) and they reccommend that you use your old passport for traveling outside of Israel.

Look at it from their point of view. A foreigner holding a passport with several entry stamps of a country that you do not recognise. Then apply this situation to Taiwan and China. They also get extremely suspicious of people who have entry stamps of each other, and this is even when you already have a visa from their embassy.

Answer 2

I would not risk it...contact someone at the Embassy

Answer 3

yes it is : read this :

V I S A S

Excepting citizens of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar and Bahrain, all vistors require Visit visas

This type of Visa is normally issued for 30 days, and can be renewed. Visas can be obtained through local hotels(usually with confirmation of booking) and travel agencies or, for US and German citizens, from the UAE embassy in their country.

~#At present, only citizens of Israel, and those with Israeli stamps in their passports, are barred from entering the United Arab Emirates.#

http://www.dubainet.com/city.htm

so? this answers your question?