The UAE’s flagship five-year multiple-entry tourist visa, first announced in 2021, is rapidly becoming the permit of choice for frequent visitors who split their time between Dubai and other global hubs. In an extensive explainer published on July 22, Khaleej Times laid out every step of the application process, the latest fee schedule and – crucially for corporate travel planners – the usage rules that govern stay limits and extensions. Under the scheme, travellers of any nationality can enter the UAE as often as they wish during the visa’s five-year validity, provided they do not exceed 90 consecutive days per visit or 180 aggregate days in a 12-month period. Applicants must show a six-month bank balance of at least US $4,000 (or currency equivalent), hold UAE-approved health insurance and upload a confirmed onward ticket. The government issues the visa within 48 hours through the ICP or GDRFA portals, or via authorised typing centres. Cost remains the biggest talking point. Applying via the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Port Security (ICP) now totals AED 3,775, while GDRFA Dubai charges AED 3,713.50 – both figures include a refundable security deposit of roughly AED 3,000. Experts note companies should budget for the deposit to remain tied up for the full visa term when sponsoring senior executives or project teams. Why does this matter for global mobility professionals? The permit eliminates repetitive single-entry visa costs and gives multinationals more flexibility when scheduling meetings, audits or training programmes in the Emirates. Yet HR teams must still track days-in-country to avoid overstay fines that could jeopardise future applications. The article also urges travellers to request a travel-history report from immigration if they are unsure how many days they have used – a best practice mobility managers should adopt immediately.
Source: Khaleej Times
