In 2025, the UAE overhauled its residency and visa system, adding new categories and updating regulations to strengthen its position as a hub for living, work, and investment. Approved by the Federal Authority, the reforms include four new visit visas and revised durations and eligibility rules.
New Visit-Visa Categories:
Artificial Intelligence Specialists: Single- or multiple-entry visas for professionals sponsored by licensed AI entities.
Entertainment Visas: For individuals participating in cultural, artistic, or tourism-related activities.
Events Visas: Covering conferences, exhibitions, festivals, and sporting, religious, or educational gatherings, issued upon invitation from a host organisation.
Maritime Tourism Visas: Multiple-entry permits for cruise passengers or leisure boat visitors on approved itineraries, backed by licensed sponsors.
Updated Visa Rules:
Foreign Truck Drivers: Eligible for single- or multiple-entry visas under stricter conditions, including accredited company sponsorship, financial guarantees, and health compliance.
Visiting Friends or Relatives: Sponsors must meet minimum income thresholds—Dh4,000 for first-degree relatives, Dh8,000 for second- and third-degree relatives, and Dh15,000 for friends.
Business-Exploration Visas: Applicants must show financial capacity, relevant international work experience, or official recognition of their occupation.
Residency and Humanitarian Provisions:
Individuals from countries affected by war, disasters, or instability may receive renewable or suspendable one-year visas, sometimes without a sponsor. Foreign widows or divorcees of UAE nationals or residents can obtain six-month residencies, extendable under conditions, with custodial mothers able to sponsor their children. A unified visa schedule now standardizes durations across six categories for transparency and efficiency.
