The United Arab Emirates has broadened its increasingly flexible entry framework by adding citizens of Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines, Kenya and South Africa to its visa-on-arrival programme, effective 25 June 2026. According to the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Ports Security (ICP), travellers holding ordinary passports from any of the six countries can now obtain either a 14-day or a 60-day visit visa at UAE airports, provided they also possess a valid residence permit or long-term visa issued by the United States, a European Union member state, the United Kingdom, Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand or Canada. The 14-day visa costs AED 100 and may be extended once for a further 14 days; the 60-day option costs AED 250 and is not extendable. Overstay fines will apply at AED 50 per day.
![UAE expands visa-on-arrival scheme to six new nationalities]()
For travellers or mobility managers who prefer professional assistance, VisaHQ can help navigate these new rules quickly and accurately. Its UAE portal (https://www.visahq.com/united-arab-emirates/) consolidates real-time entry requirements, provides step-by-step guidance for e-visas and longer-term permits, and offers live support—ensuring individuals and corporate teams remain fully compliant before boarding a flight.
Officials stressed that the initiative reflects the country’s strategy of making entry procedures “seamless, competitive and globally benchmarked,” while deepening ties with fast-growing tourism and trade partners in Asia and Africa. For businesses, the change removes a layer of pre-departure bureaucracy for project managers flying regional talent into the UAE on short notice, and gives multinationals additional flexibility in rotating staff through Dubai and Abu Dhabi hubs. Airlines and hotels have already begun marketing stop-over packages to the newly eligible markets, anticipating a spike in summer arrivals and connecting traffic through Dubai International (DXB) and Abu Dhabi’s Zayed International Airport. Travel consultants advise corporates to update mobility policies immediately to reflect the two visa lengths, associated fees and the documentary proof required at immigration counters (passport plus qualifying third-country residence visa). Employers should also remind travelling staff that the 60-day visa cannot be extended inside the UAE; anyone needing a longer stay must convert to an appropriate work, remote-work or investor residence permit before expiry. The revision continues a broader liberalisation trend that has seen the UAE launch one-, five- and ten-year self-sponsored residence options since 2022, positioning the Gulf state as one of the world’s most open jurisdictions for mobile professionals, entrepreneurs and high-net-worth individuals.
For travellers or mobility managers who prefer professional assistance, VisaHQ can help navigate these new rules quickly and accurately. Its UAE portal (https://www.visahq.com/united-arab-emirates/) consolidates real-time entry requirements, provides step-by-step guidance for e-visas and longer-term permits, and offers live support—ensuring individuals and corporate teams remain fully compliant before boarding a flight.
Officials stressed that the initiative reflects the country’s strategy of making entry procedures “seamless, competitive and globally benchmarked,” while deepening ties with fast-growing tourism and trade partners in Asia and Africa. For businesses, the change removes a layer of pre-departure bureaucracy for project managers flying regional talent into the UAE on short notice, and gives multinationals additional flexibility in rotating staff through Dubai and Abu Dhabi hubs. Airlines and hotels have already begun marketing stop-over packages to the newly eligible markets, anticipating a spike in summer arrivals and connecting traffic through Dubai International (DXB) and Abu Dhabi’s Zayed International Airport. Travel consultants advise corporates to update mobility policies immediately to reflect the two visa lengths, associated fees and the documentary proof required at immigration counters (passport plus qualifying third-country residence visa). Employers should also remind travelling staff that the 60-day visa cannot be extended inside the UAE; anyone needing a longer stay must convert to an appropriate work, remote-work or investor residence permit before expiry. The revision continues a broader liberalisation trend that has seen the UAE launch one-, five- and ten-year self-sponsored residence options since 2022, positioning the Gulf state as one of the world’s most open jurisdictions for mobile professionals, entrepreneurs and high-net-worth individuals.
