DUBAI, Sept 18: Tourists from the South Asian countries exporting labour to the UAE would require a university degree to get a visa as the Gulf state fought an illegal influx, a newspaper reported on Tuesday.

Electricians, masons, farmers, drivers and cleaners from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and the Philippines were now banned from obtaining a tourist visa, Gulf News daily said citing a senior immigration official.

The measure set a university degree as a prerequisite to obtain a visa, the official said. “The Federal Residency Department... has decided to adopt stricter regimes for tourist and visit visas to curb the influx of blue-collar workers from many labour exporting countries,” he said.—AFP