Dubai, Nov 18: Indians will be offered visit visa by Dubai in just three days, without the need for a sponsor, for the month-long shopping festival in that Emirate beginning January 2003. Targetting Indian tourists in a major way for the extravaganza to be held from Jan 15 to Feb 15, a Dubai visa processing centre in India will be opened to facilitate the issue of visit visas or 96 hour work visas in three days, media reports here said.

What is more, the facility launched by the Dubai-owned Emirates Airline and Gold and Jewellery Group in association with Blue Dart couriers will do away with the usual requirement of a sponsor in the UAE for visitors from India.

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The applications will be accepted at 77 outlets in 31 cities in India, the reports said.

A special five day travel package announced by Emirates and SOTC travels, is priced at $599 per person inclusive of airfare, accommodation breakfast and Indian dinner, all transfers, sight seeing and guide services.

Dubai has already become a major global tourist destination with a number of region's first, such as the tallest hotel, richest horse race and several world class sports events.

Launched in 1996 as an annual event, the Dubai Shopping Festival, last year, attracted 2.68 million shoppers from around the world.

Roadshows were held in India to highlight Dubai as a destination for travellers and also to attract Indian tourists who have traditionally looked eastward to countries like Singapore and Thailand, the reports said. Bureau Report