In a major boost to the Emirates’ tourism and business-travel ambitions, Dubai-based newspaper Khaleej Times confirmed on 22 July 2026 that the long-awaited five-year multiple-entry tourist visa is now live and open to applicants of every nationality. Under the new scheme, travellers may enter the UAE an unlimited number of times over a five-year period and stay for up to 90 days on each visit, with a one-time extension that allows a maximum of 180 days per year. The visa can be issued in as little as 48 hours through the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Port Security (ICP) or Dubai’s General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA); applicants must show a six-month passport validity, proof of USD 4,000 (or equivalent) in bank balance for the preceding six months, confirmed health insurance, and a return or onward ticket. Fees vary slightly by channel—AED 3,775 via ICP and AED 3,713.50 via GDRFA—because of differing security-deposit structures. Importantly, the full security deposit is refundable if an application is rejected or an issued visa is later cancelled. Authorities warn, however, that overstaying any single 90-day allowance automatically voids the visa and forfeits the deposit, while unused days do not carry over into the following year. For companies managing regional sales teams and for frequent flyers attending trade shows in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, the permit eliminates repetitive paperwork and allows forward planning of customer visits, internal meetings and training rotations. HR mobility managers should update travel-policy matrices to ensure staff purchase qualifying medical insurance and track total days in country—ICP travel-report downloads are recommended for compliance. The new visa also dovetails with Dubai’s "A Dubai Invite" campaign (running 20 July-31 October) that offers residents hotel and leisure vouchers when they encourage friends or relatives to visit, potentially amplifying inbound volumes during the post-summer shoulder season. With the UAE already offering visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 87 countries, the multi-entry visa cements the federation’s position as the Gulf’s most open hub for entrepreneurs, digital nomads and MICE delegates. Travel-industry analysts forecast an incremental 1.5 million visitor arrivals annually once the programme reaches steady state—another tail-wind for airlines, hotels and the country’s USD 45 billion tourism economy.
Source: Khaleej Times
