In the latest push to digitise its consular services, the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) confirmed on 28 September 2026 that it will inaugurate an electronic visa (e-visa) centre in the Lebanese capital, Beirut, in October. The new facility will allow Lebanese applicants—and foreign residents in Lebanon who need UAE entry permits—to complete their entire visa process locally, including biometric capture, document upload, fee payment and issuance of the approved e-visa. Until now, travellers often relied on third-party agencies or flew to Dubai to finalise paperwork, adding time and cost. According to MoFA Under-Secretary Omar Obaid Al Shamsi, the centre is part of a wider strategy to create “one-stop digital hubs” in key source markets. Similar centres already operate in Colombo and Islamabad, and pilots are under way in Lagos and Manila. Beirut was prioritised because Lebanon remains an important labour, education and tourism partner; more than 80,000 Lebanese professionals work in the Emirates and visitor numbers rebounded 47 % year-on-year in H1 2026. For businesses, the convenience play is significant. UAE-based employers recruiting Lebanese talent will see faster onboarding, while frequent flyers—consultants, construction supervisors and media crews—can obtain multi-entry visit visas in days instead of weeks. The government also hopes the centre will boost inbound leisure traffic by streamlining five-year multiple-entry tourist visas. MoFA stressed that all data captured in Beirut will feed directly into the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Port Security (ICP) platform, ensuring real-time security vetting. Initial capacity is 300 applications per day, expandable to 1,000. Once operational, the Beirut branch will set the template for additional e-visa centres across the Middle East and Africa in 2027.
Source: Gulf News
