The Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs, and Port Security (ICP) has announced significant reforms to the UAE visit visa rules. Four new categories have been added. In parallel, the authority has updated several existing visas by revising conditions, durations, and eligibility requirements.
Major General Suhail Saeed Al Khaili, Director General of ICP, said the changes stem from extensive studies. These studies reviewed migration trends, customer feedback, and service performance. According to him, the reforms balance national security, economic expansion, and humanitarian concerns.
The decision introduced four new entry visas. The first is for artificial intelligence specialists. It supports the UAE’s strategy to dominate advanced technologies. It allows single or multiple entries for fixed periods, provided a licensed technology company issues a sponsorship letter. The second is an entertainment visa, created for foreigners entering the country for entertainment-related activities. The third is an event visa covering festivals, exhibitions, conferences, seminars, and educational or cultural programs. Hosts must provide a letter with event details and duration. The fourth is a tourism visa for cruise and pleasure boat passengers. This visa permits multiple entries when guaranteed by licensed tour operators.
Several existing visa categories have also been amended. Truck drivers may now obtain single or multiple-entry visas if sponsored by a shipping or logistics company. The rules also require health insurance and financial guarantees. For visitors seeing relatives or friends, the guarantor’s income level now determines eligibility. Hosting first-degree relatives requires a minimum of AED 4,000. Having the second or third-degree relatives requires AED 8,000. Hosting friends requires AED 15,000.
The business exploration visa now demands proof of financial solvency. Applicants must either show they already conduct such activities abroad or hold the resources to establish them locally. Humanitarian visas have been clarified with a fixed one-year duration. These may be extended for citizens from countries facing wars, disasters, or instability. In addition, widows or divorcees of Emirati citizens now have a structured pathway to residence. Conditions differ depending on whether the applicant has children, but both cases require proof of financial solvency and adequate housing.
Annex (A) of the decision outlines six categories of visa durations and the authorities empowered to grant extensions. This framework enhances transparency, institutional consistency, and customer confidence. Consequently, the reforms improve the predictability of visa procedures for both applicants and state agencies.
The new UAE visit visa rules signal a dual intent: to attract global talent while addressing humanitarian realities. They bolster trade, transport, and technology, while simultaneously safeguarding social stability. By integrating flexibility with regulation, the UAE strengthens its position as a hub for innovation, business, and cultural exchange.
