The United Arab Emirates has carried out its first major entry-visa reform of 2026, widening the popular visa-on-arrival programme to six additional nationalities. Effective 25 June 2026, ordinary passport-holders from Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines, Kenya and South Africa – and their accompanying family members – can obtain either a 14-day multiple-entry visa on arrival or a single-entry 60-day visa at any UAE air, land or sea border, provided they also hold a valid residence permit issued by one of 10 pre-approved third countries (US, UK, EU member state, Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand or Canada). According to the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Ports Security (ICP), the 14-day visa costs AED 100 and can be extended once inside the country, while the 60-day visa costs AED 250 and is non-extendable. Overstay penalties have been standardised at AED 50 per day. The ICP says the dual-duration model is intended to serve both short-stay business travellers who need meeting flexibility and longer-stay visitors exploring investment or relocation options.
![UAE adds Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, Philippines, Kenya and South Africa to visa-on-arrival scheme]()
Travellers who would rather secure their documents in advance—or whose circumstances fall outside the new visa-on-arrival rules—can turn to VisaHQ for help. The firm’s dedicated UAE page (https://www.visahq.com/united-arab-emirates/) provides step-by-step application support, real-time status tracking and compliance advice for everything from tourist e-visas to multi-year residence permits, giving both individuals and mobility managers extra peace of mind.
The reform builds on last year’s pilot that allowed certain Indian citizens to receive a 14-day visa on arrival if they held a US green card or EU/UK residence. By adding six high-growth emerging markets in Asia and Africa, officials aim to diversify visitor flows, deepen trade links and stimulate the Meetings-Incentives-Conferences-Exhibitions (MICE) sector in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Analysts at Emirates NBD estimate the new cohorts could contribute an extra AED 4–5 billion in tourism receipts and business spending over the next 12 months. Airlines are already responding: Emirates has loaded extra frequencies to Jakarta and Manila for July, while flydubai will start five-weekly flights to Mombasa in August. For corporate mobility managers the change removes a key administrative barrier. Employees from the six countries who hold residence in a qualifying third country can now travel to the UAE at short notice without filing an e-visa application in advance. Companies are nevertheless advised to keep scanned copies of the third-country residence permit and ensure at least six months’ passport validity to avoid boarding denials. Practically, arriving travellers should join the dedicated ‘Visa on Arrival/Residents’ lanes, present their passport and qualifying residence card, pay by credit card, and register their biometrics. The ICP has upgraded 40 e-gates at Dubai International (DXB) and Abu Dhabi International (AUH) to cut processing times to under five minutes even during the summer peak. Over the coming weeks, travel agents expect strong demand from Filipino medical tourists, Kenyan entrepreneurs attending Dubai’s Africa Tech Summit, and South African property investors seeking Golden Visa pathways through real-estate purchases.
Travellers who would rather secure their documents in advance—or whose circumstances fall outside the new visa-on-arrival rules—can turn to VisaHQ for help. The firm’s dedicated UAE page (https://www.visahq.com/united-arab-emirates/) provides step-by-step application support, real-time status tracking and compliance advice for everything from tourist e-visas to multi-year residence permits, giving both individuals and mobility managers extra peace of mind.
The reform builds on last year’s pilot that allowed certain Indian citizens to receive a 14-day visa on arrival if they held a US green card or EU/UK residence. By adding six high-growth emerging markets in Asia and Africa, officials aim to diversify visitor flows, deepen trade links and stimulate the Meetings-Incentives-Conferences-Exhibitions (MICE) sector in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Analysts at Emirates NBD estimate the new cohorts could contribute an extra AED 4–5 billion in tourism receipts and business spending over the next 12 months. Airlines are already responding: Emirates has loaded extra frequencies to Jakarta and Manila for July, while flydubai will start five-weekly flights to Mombasa in August. For corporate mobility managers the change removes a key administrative barrier. Employees from the six countries who hold residence in a qualifying third country can now travel to the UAE at short notice without filing an e-visa application in advance. Companies are nevertheless advised to keep scanned copies of the third-country residence permit and ensure at least six months’ passport validity to avoid boarding denials. Practically, arriving travellers should join the dedicated ‘Visa on Arrival/Residents’ lanes, present their passport and qualifying residence card, pay by credit card, and register their biometrics. The ICP has upgraded 40 e-gates at Dubai International (DXB) and Abu Dhabi International (AUH) to cut processing times to under five minutes even during the summer peak. Over the coming weeks, travel agents expect strong demand from Filipino medical tourists, Kenyan entrepreneurs attending Dubai’s Africa Tech Summit, and South African property investors seeking Golden Visa pathways through real-estate purchases.
