The UAE has expanded its visa framework with new categories for AI specialists, entertainers, event delegates, and maritime tourists. The ICP announced the new categories on 29 September 2025, with further updates rolling out through late 2025 and early 2026.
Here is what travellers, expats, and sponsors need to know before booking flights to the UAE or hotels in Dubai on Wego.
The Four New Visit Visa Categories
The ICP has introduced four purpose-built visit visa categories aimed at attracting global talent and supporting the UAE’s tourism, technology, and events sectors.
AI Specialist Visa
Designed for artificial intelligence professionals entering the UAE for short-term work or collaboration. Applicants need a sponsorship or hosting letter from a technology-focused entity inside the UAE. Single and multiple-entry options are available.
Entertainment Visa
Granted to performers, artists, and visitors entering the UAE for leisure or cultural activity. The visa is short-term and intended to support the country’s growing entertainment economy.
Event Visa
Aimed at delegates, exhibitors, and staff attending conferences, festivals, exhibitions, or official gatherings. Validity can extend up to 60 days, depending on the event.
Maritime Tourism Visa
Created for crew members and passengers of yachts, cruise ships, and leisure boats. Available as single or multiple entry, with validity of 60 or 90 days depending on the variant, it simplifies crew rotations at marinas including Yas Marina in Abu Dhabi.
New Sponsor Income Thresholds
If you are a UAE resident inviting family or friends to visit, the rules now tie sponsorship eligibility to your monthly income. According to the official ICP guidance reported by Khaleej Times, the thresholds are:
| Relationship to Sponsor | Minimum Monthly Income |
|---|---|
| First-degree (parents, spouse, children) | AED 4,000 |
| Second or third-degree (siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins) | AED 8,000 |
| Friends (non-relatives) | AED 15,000 |
The friend-sponsorship category is new. Until 2025, only relatives up to a defined degree could be sponsored, so this expansion gives long-term residents more flexibility, but at a higher income bar.
Other Updated Visa Categories
Humanitarian Residence Permit
A renewable one-year residence permit issued at the discretion of the ICP for individuals facing humanitarian circumstances. It can be granted without a traditional sponsor for those affected by war or major disasters, subject to specific conditions.
Residency for Foreign Widows and Divorcees
Foreign nationals who are widowed or divorced from UAE residents can apply for a one-year residence permit in their own name. The permit is renewable for another year if eligibility conditions continue to be met.
Business Exploration Visa
Aimed at entrepreneurs and investors evaluating opportunities in the UAE. Applicants must show financial capacity matching the proposed business activity, ownership of an existing company abroad, or recognised professional experience in the field.
Truck Driver Visa
A short-term entry permit for foreign truck drivers working with UAE-based logistics companies. It requires an accredited UAE sponsor along with health and financial guarantees.
In-Country Visa Extensions Without Border Runs
One of the most practical updates for tourists is that most 30-day and 60-day visit visas can now be extended from inside the UAE through the ICP Smart Services portal, ending the long-standing practice of exit-and-reentry runs to Oman.
Key points to know:
- 30-day visas can be extended twice, adding 30 days each time.
- 60-day visas can typically be extended once for an additional 30 days.
- The standard renewal fee is around AED 600 plus VAT, with applicable service charges. Total in-country renewal cost typically lands between AED 1,000 and AED 1,200, according to the GDRFA Dubai service page.
- Maximum continuous stay through extensions is up to 120 days per year without exiting the country.
Extensions can also be processed via the GDRFA Dubai platform or an authorised Amer centre if you prefer in-person assistance.
What Changed for Overstays
- Flat AED 50 per day across all emirates, effective 11 February 2026.
- Zero grace days for tourist and visit visa holders.
- Cancelled-residence permits: still get a 30 to 180-day grace window based on skill category.
- No active amnesty, as the war-related overstay fine waiver (introduced 28 February 2026) ended at 23:59 on 31 March 2026, per VisaHQ.
- Action: if your visa is close to expiring, apply for an in-country extension before the expiry date, not after.
How to Apply and What to Prepare
To apply for any of the new or updated visa categories:
- Check eligibility via the ICP Smart Services portal or, for Dubai-specific applications, GDRFA Dubai.
- Prepare core documents: passport copy (six months validity), recent photo, and travel insurance.
- Add category-specific documents:
- Family or friend sponsorship: sponsor’s salary certificate, Emirates ID, tenancy contract.
- Business exploration: proof of company ownership abroad or professional credentials.
- AI Specialist: letter from the UAE-based sponsoring or hosting tech entity.
- Truck driver: sponsor accreditation, medical fitness, and financial guarantee documents.
- Pay the relevant fees online and track approval through the portal.
Once approved, you can book flights to Dubai or flights to Abu Dhabi, and find hotels in Abu Dhabi or hotels in Sharjah on Wego.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I still do a visa run to Oman to renew my UAE tourist visa?
You can technically still exit and re-enter, but it is no longer necessary. Most 30-day and 60-day visit visas can now be extended fully online from inside the UAE via the ICP portal, which is faster and often cheaper than a border run.
Is there any grace period if my UAE tourist visa expires?
No. As of 11 February 2026, tourist and visit visa holders get zero grace days. A flat AED 50 per day fine begins the moment the visa expires.
Can I sponsor a friend’s UAE visit visa now?
Yes. The 2025 reforms allow UAE residents to sponsor non-relative friends for visit visas, provided the sponsor’s monthly income is at least AED 15,000.
How long can I stay in the UAE on a tourist visa with extensions?
Up to 120 days per year by combining the original visa with two 30-day in-country extensions, depending on your starting visa type.
Sources
- UAE Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP)
- ICP Smart Services Portal
- GDRFA Dubai – Tourist Visa Extension
- Khaleej Times – Minimum Income Rule for Visit Visa Sponsors
- VisaHQ – UAE Reinstates Daily Overstay Fines
- VisaHQ – UAE Unifies Visa Overstay Fine at AED 50
Disclaimer: Wego strives to ensure all information presented in this article is accurate and up to date at the time of publication. Travel policies, prices, visa requirements, and conditions can change rapidly. We strongly recommend verifying critical details with official sources before making travel decisions. Wego does not accept liability for any inaccuracies, oversights, or changes that may occur after publication.
