Dubai’s General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) published fresh guidance on 21 July outlining who can use its visa-on-arrival facility and how to apply via digital channels. The clarification follows a surge in applications since eligibility was expanded late-June. Under the service, ordinary-passport holders from India, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines, Kenya and South Africa who reside outside their home country—and who hold valid residence permits issued by the US, UK, EU, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Korea or Singapore—may obtain a UAE visa on arrival. Two options exist: a 14-day visa (AED 172.50, extendable once) and a 60-day visa (AED 422.50, non-extendable). Applications are lodged through GDRFA’s website or mobile app, with approvals typically issued within 48 hours and delivered by email. Applicants must upload a colour photo, a passport valid six months and a scan of their third-country residence permit. For multinational employers, the update is significant: many Indian and Filipino assignees posted in Singapore or London can now travel to Dubai for project work without pre-arranged sponsorship, cutting lead-times for client visits and rotational shifts. Immigration advisers caution, however, that visa-on-arrival holders cannot convert their status to employment residence inside the UAE; those on long-term assignments will still need a work permit and Emirates ID. HR teams should also budget for health insurance and outbound overstay penalties if plans change.
Source: Gulf News
