A top official of UAE's Ministry of Interior has denied press reports about a ban on tourist visa for unskilled workers coming into the country.

 

Major General Nasser Al Awadi Al Menhali, assistant undersecretary for naturalisation and residency, and ports affairs at the Ministry of Interior, was quoted by the official Wam news agency as saying departments of naturalisation and residency across the country were processing visit visa transactions for would-be applicants in consistence with standard procedures.

 

He criticised some media outlets which published these "untrue news" based on unofficial and unreliable sources, Wam said.

 

He said any new procedures would be announced to the public beforehand and posted on the ministry's website or released to the media by the Security Information Department.

 

Earlier, citing an unnamed federal official, local media reported that new rules for issuing visit, tourist and conference visas would apply to a certain category of applicants from mostly Asian countries.