SOURCE :- SIASAT NEWS
Dubai: Tourists will soon be able to apply for single-entry and multiple-entry visas through Visit Dubai, the emirate’s official tourism website, under a new initiative announced by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum on Sunday, November 1.
The new facility is scheduled to be introduced during November 2026, allowing travellers to access tourist visa applications through the same platform used to explore Dubai’s attractions, discover events, book tickets and plan holidays.
According to the Visit Dubai website, fees for a 30-day single-entry tourist visa start at Dh200, excluding VAT, while applications are typically processed within three working days.
Sheikh Hamdan, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, announced the initiative as part of efforts to strengthen the emirate’s tourism sector and position it among the world’s top three tourism destinations.
The visa service forms part of the Shared Digital Channels Initiative, which integrates government services into unified digital platforms to make them more accessible.
The General Directorate of Identity and Foreigners Affairs – Dubai (GDRFA Dubai) will continue to assess visa applications and issue visas. Additional visa categories are also planned for introduction in the future, while further details of the service are expected to be announced in due course, the Emirates News Agency (WAM) reported.
By bringing visa applications onto Visit Dubai, travellers will be able to access tourism information and government services through a single digital channel instead of navigating multiple websites and applications.
Dubai Access Club for repeat visitors
Alongside the visa facility, Sheikh Hamdan announced Dubai Access Club, described as the world’s first city-led, invitation-only tourism membership programme.
The initiative will offer invited members exclusive experiences, services and benefits across the emirate, with the aim of encouraging repeat visits and strengthening travellers’ connection with Dubai.
Further details about membership eligibility and the benefits on offer have not yet been announced.
Both initiatives have been developed through collaboration between GDRFA Dubai, the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) and Digital Dubai.
Part of Dubai Economic Agenda D33
The initiatives support the Dubai Economic Agenda, D33, which aims to position the emirate among the world’s top three destinations for business and leisure.
Sheikh Hamdan said Dubai was committed to strengthening its global tourism position through innovation, improved services and experiences that enhance every stage of the visitor journey.
He added that technology, innovation and public-private partnerships would help attract investment, create new opportunities and strengthen tourism’s contribution to long-term economic growth.
Helal Saeed Almarri, Director-General of DET, said the measures were designed to remove barriers for visitors, create greater value and give travellers more reasons to return to Dubai.
Lieutenant General Mohammed Ahmed Al Marri, Director-General of GDRFA Dubai, said enabling tourists to apply for visas through Visit Dubai would simplify access to government procedures while maintaining security and efficiency.
Hamad Obaid Al Mansoori, Director-General of Digital Dubai, said integrating services through unified platforms would make government services more connected and accessible.
Sheikh Hamdan approved the Shared Digital Channels Initiative in February 2025. Led by Digital Dubai, it brings public and private sector services together across seven unified platforms and uses technologies such as artificial intelligence to personalise services and anticipate users’ needs.
SOURCE : SIASAT
