As the UAE looks ahead to 2026, the country has rolled out a fresh set of visa reforms that will affect residents, visitors, and businesses alike. The updates, announced by the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP), focus on introducing new visit visa categories, revising sponsorship requirements, and improving services for Golden Visa holders.
For Dubai residents, where family visits, business travel, and short-term stays are part of everyday life, these changes are expected to make the process more structured and transparent. The idea is simple: clearer rules, better-defined visas, and smoother services.
Here’s a closer look at what’s changing and how it may impact people on the ground.
New UAE visit visa categories explained
Four new visas tailored to specific purposes
The UAE has introduced four new visit visa categories, each linked to a specific sector or type of visitor.
Artificial intelligence specialists
This visa is available for single or multiple entry and is sponsored by licensed AI-focused entities. It supports the UAE’s ambition to lead in artificial intelligence and advanced technology. Dubai’s innovation hubs, tech free zones, and research centres are likely to see more international experts arriving under this category.
Entertainment visa
This visitor’s visa is designed for individuals taking part in cultural, artistic, and tourism-related activities. It applies to performers, artists, and creative professionals attending shows, festivals, or short-term projects across the UAE.
Events visa
This visa covers conferences, exhibitions, festivals, and sporting, religious, or educational events. With Dubai hosting global expos, trade shows, and large-scale events throughout the year, this category gives organisers and participants a clearer entry option.
Maritime tourism visa
A multiple-entry visa created for cruise passengers and leisure vessel travellers. As Dubai and Abu Dhabi continue to grow as cruise hubs, this visa supports easier movement for sea-based tourists.
Together, these categories aim to reduce confusion and ensure visitors are applying for visas that truly match their purpose of travel.
Changes to existing UAE visas
Updated rules for drivers, sponsors, and business visitors
Several existing visa categories have also been revised.
Foreign truck drivers
Drivers can now apply for single or multiple-entry visas. However, the rules are stricter. Applicants must be sponsored by accredited logistics companies, provide financial guarantees, and meet health requirements. This move focuses on safety and regulation within the transport sector.
Sponsoring family members and friends
Income requirements for sponsors have been updated based on relationship:
- First-degree relatives: minimum salary of Dh4,000 per month
- Second and third-degree relatives: Dh8,000 per month
- Friends: Dh15,000 per month
This change is especially relevant for Dubai residents who frequently sponsor visiting parents, relatives, or friends during holidays and long weekends.
Business visa applicants
Those applying for business visas must now show stronger proof of eligibility. This includes demonstrating financial capacity, overseas professional experience, or official recognition of their occupation by relevant authorities. The aim is to attract genuine business visitors who contribute to the local economy.
Humanitarian residency visas
Individuals from countries affected by conflict or natural disasters may be granted a renewable one-year residency without a sponsor. Each case will be reviewed individually, reflecting the UAE’s humanitarian approach.
Support for widows, divorcees, and families
More clarity and stability for residents
Authorities have introduced new provisions for foreign widows and divorcees who were previously married to UAE nationals or residents.
Eligible applicants may receive a six-month residency, with the option to extend if valid reasons are provided. Authorities also allow custodial mothers to sponsor their children, provided they meet housing and financial requirements.
These updates bring added stability for families already living in the UAE, especially those dealing with major life changes.
In addition, a unified schedule covering visa durations and approving authorities has been adopted. This is expected to improve consistency and make the process easier to understand across all emirates.
Golden Visa holders receive new service upgrades
Five new services introduced
Golden Visa holders will benefit from five new services launched by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in coordination with federal authorities.
These include:
- Electronic return documents in case of lost passports
- Round-the-clock emergency support
- Humanitarian evacuation assistance
- Repatriation of remains
- Access to a dedicated global hotline
For long-term residents, investors, and professionals, these services add an extra layer of security, especially for those who travel often or have family abroad.
What residents and visitors should know?
These visa updates reflect how the UAE continues to adapt to global trends while keeping everyday realities in mind. For Dubai residents, the changes mean clearer sponsorship rules and better-defined visit visas. For visitors, they offer more purpose-based options and smoother entry.
Whether it’s attending an exhibition at Dubai World Trade Centre, hosting family during Eid, or travelling on a cruise through the region, the updated system aims to make the experience more straightforward.
The UAE’s visa reforms ahead of 2026 focus on clarity, flexibility, and long-term planning. With new visa categories, updated sponsorship requirements, and added Golden Visa services, the country continues to position itself as a welcoming and well-regulated destination.
Residents and visitors are advised to stay updated before applying for or sponsoring visas in the coming year.
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