Dubai changes visa rules in 2026, expands visa-on-arrival access and relaxes property visa criteria

Dubai has introduced several visa and immigration changes in 2026, covering visa-on-arrival eligibility, tourist visa processing, property-linked residency, Golden Visas and residence permit renewals. The measures are aimed at simplifying entry procedures, widening access to long-term residency and changing requirements for foreign residents and visitors.

One of the key changes concerns visa-on-arrival access for nationals of India, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines, Kenya and South Africa. Eligible ordinary passport holders and their accompanying family members can now obtain a visa on arrival in the UAE if they hold a valid residence permit issued by Australia, Canada, a European Union member state, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, the UK or the US.

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Depending on eligibility, travellers can receive permission to stay for 14, 28 or 60 days without arranging a visa in advance.

Dubai has also introduced faster processing for certain tourist visas. Single-entry tourist visas valid for 30 or 60 days can now typically be processed within 48 working hours. Applications can be submitted through authorised travel agencies, UAE airlines, including Emirates, Etihad and flydubai, selected hotel partners and visa portals.

Another significant change concerns the two-year property owner residence visa. The Dubai Land Department has removed the minimum property value requirement of AED 750,000 for sole property owners. This means individual owners can apply without meeting the earlier minimum valuation threshold.

For jointly owned properties, the minimum investment requirement is now AED 400,000 per investor. Applications remain subject to approval by the relevant authorities.

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Golden Visa holders have also gained access to additional services. Foreign nationals with the 10-year residency permit can now access consular assistance when travelling overseas, under a new initiative introduced by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in collaboration with the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security.

Eligibility for Golden Visas has also expanded to include additional categories. These include donors to Waqf, or Islamic charitable endowments, under the financial supporters of humanitarian work category. Separate initiatives have also been introduced for influencers, gaming professionals, teachers and nurses.

The UAE has additionally introduced four new visit visa categories for specialists working in artificial intelligence, entertainment, events, and cruise ships and leisure boats. Changes have also been made to certain existing entry permits, including those for humanitarian purposes, friends visiting UAE residents and truck drivers.

Meanwhile, Dubai has linked residence visa renewal and cancellation services with outstanding traffic fines. Residents renewing or cancelling their residence permits will be prompted to settle unpaid fines before completing the transactions. However, the system does not block visa renewals and allows residents to pay fines in full or through interest-free instalments.

A proposed GCC unified tourist visa, called GCC Grand Tours, is also awaiting implementation. It is expected to cover the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and Oman, allowing travellers to move between the six countries under a single visa. However, no rollout announcement had been made as of October 2026.