UAE Expands Visit Visa Options With Four New Categories and Updated Rules

The Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs, and Ports Security (ICP) has introduced four new categories for visit visas and implemented key changes to existing visa regulations. 

The new visa categories cover entry for artificial intelligence specialists, entertainment professionals, event attendees, and cruise ship tourists. Each category has specific eligibility criteria and entry conditions.

The AI visa is available for single or multiple entries. Applicants must submit a letter from a licensed technology company acting as the host.

The entertainment visa permits temporary entry for individuals participating in entertainment-related activities. 

The event visa applies to short-term stays for those attending festivals, exhibitions, conferences, or similar events. It requires a letter from the organizing entity with full event details.

A multiple-entry visa is also available for cruise ship tourists, provided the applicant has a valid itinerary including entry into the country and is sponsored by a licensed tourism operator.

The ICP has also updated conditions for several existing visa types. Foreign truck drivers are now eligible for single or multiple-entry visas. Sponsorship must come from a company involved in shipping or freight transport. Health insurance and financial guarantees are required.

Revised rules have been issued for residents sponsoring the visits of relatives or friends. Sponsors must meet minimum income thresholds based on the relationship. For first-degree relatives, the monthly income must be at least AED 4,000. For second- or third-degree relatives, the requirement is AED 8,000. Sponsorship of friends requires a monthly income of AED 15,000.

Applicants for the business exploration visa must now show financial solvency or proof of business activity outside the UAE. Humanitarian entry permits are limited to one year but may be extended under specific conditions. The ICP’s Chairman retains authority to issue or suspend these permits for individuals from countries affected by war, disasters, or instability.

Residency rules for widows and divorced women have also been clarified. A residence permit is issued to the foreign widow or divorcee of a citizen who has no children, within six months from the date of the husband’s death or divorce. In the case of a foreign husband, residency is issued to the foreign widow or divorcee with custody and to her children, subject to financial stability and adequate housing. In cases of custody disputes, a competent committee will decide. The permit may be extended for a similar period based on valid reasons.

The new decision also gives the Director General of Identity and Foreigners Affairs authority to approve exemptions from income or kinship requirements in certain humanitarian cases. 

According to the ICP, the reforms are based on internal evaluations and public feedback collected through service platforms, call centers, and customer councils. The updated policy aims to streamline visa procedures and align with national objectives in tourism, technology, and economic diversification.