UAE expanded visa-on-arrival for six countries: who can now fly to Dubai and Abu Dhabi more easily

The United Arab Emirates, starting June 25, 2026, expanded the visa-on-arrival program for citizens of six countries. The new rule may simplify trips to Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah for some travelers from Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, Philippines, Kenya, and South Africa, but it is not full visa-free entry: the key condition is having a valid residence permit in one of the designated states.

The news is important not only for the citizens of these six countries. The UAE is one of the world's largest aviation hubs, through which travelers fly to Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, and the Middle East. Any easing of entry rules to the Emirates simplifies transit plans, short city stops, visits to relatives, business meetings, Persian Gulf cruises, and combined routes where Dubai or Abu Dhabi become not just a layover, but part of the journey.

According to the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security of the UAE, the update concerns the Entry Visa for Nationals of Certain Countries in two options: for 14 days or 60 days. The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs separately confirmed that citizens of Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, Philippines, Kenya, and South Africa have been added to the list, whereas India was previously in this category.

What exactly changed

The new category includes holders of ordinary passports of the six listed countries, as well as their family members traveling together. They can obtain a visa on arrival in the UAE if they have a valid residence permit issued by the USA, one of the European Union countries, the UK, Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, or Canada.

This wording is crucial. A passport from Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, Philippines, Kenya, or South Africa does not automatically grant the right to simply fly in and receive entry permission. A separate residence document from one of the specified states is required. Therefore, the rule most helps those who live, study, or work outside their country of citizenship, have the corresponding residency status and wish to visit the UAE without separate prior arrangement of a tourist visa.

The UAE also expanded the list of residence countries that grant the right to use this scheme. In addition to the USA, EU, and UK, Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada were added. For practical planning, this means that, for example, a Philippine citizen with a valid residence permit in Canada or a Vietnamese citizen with residency status in Japan could potentially fall under the new conditions, provided all documents are valid and meet the requirements of border services.

Two visa options: 14 or 60 days

The updated program provides two lengths of stay. The first option is a 14-day visa on arrival. The cost of its issuance is 100 UAE dirhams, and such a permit can be extended once during the stay in the country. The second option is a 60-day single-entry visa. It costs 250 dirhams and, according to the ICP explanation, is not extendable.

These differences are important for choosing the trip format. A short permit may be suitable for a stopover in Dubai for a few days, resting after a long flight, a short business trip, or a visit to relatives. The 60-day option seems more useful for longer vacations, medical, family, or business plans, but it should not be perceived as a flexible residence permit. It is a single-entry permit with a clear term, after which the traveler must leave the country.

The UAE also reminded about the fine for overstaying the permitted period of stay: 50 dirhams per day. For tourists, this is not a trifle, as a mistake with the departure date, a flight rescheduling, or a misunderstanding of the visa expiration date can quickly turn into additional costs. Before booking a ticket, it is worth calculating not only the calendar days of vacation, but also the actual entry date, arrival time, possible delays, and a buffer for departure.

Who will benefit the most

The most obvious audience for the new rule is citizens of the six countries who are already integrated into other major labor, education, or business markets. These could be Filipino, Indonesian, or Thai specialists living in the EU or UK; Kenyan entrepreneurs with residency in the USA; South African travelers with a residence permit in Australia; students from Vietnam or Indonesia studying in Japan, Korea, or Canada.

For such people, the UAE is often not just a tourist destination, but a logical aviation hub. Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah have a dense network of flights and convenient connections, so the ability to obtain a visa on arrival can make the route simpler. Instead of avoiding a long layover or paying for a separate prior visa procedure, some passengers will be able to legally enter the city, spend a few days in a hotel, meet with family or partners, and continue their journey.

For the Emirates' tourism market, this is also a signal. The UAE has long competed not only as a beach and city holiday destination, but also as a place for short stopover trips. When it is easier for a traveler to turn a layover into a mini-trip, hotels, transport, museums, shopping malls, restaurants, tour operators, and airlines selling complex routes through the region benefit.

What to check before the flight

Despite the simplification, the new rule requires attentiveness. First, you need to check if the passport is ordinary, or if it belongs to another category, such as diplomatic or official. Then, ensure that the residence permit in one of the acceptable countries is actually valid at the time of the trip. If the document expires soon, is damaged, has a discrepancy in the spelling of the name, or does not confirm residency status, the airline or border service may ask additional questions.

It is also worth checking the airline's requirements before leaving for the airport. The carrier is responsible for checking documents before boarding and may refuse registration if the rules are interpreted differently or the passenger cannot show a full set of confirmations. This is especially true for routes with layovers, where one segment is operated by another airline, and the booking is made through an agency or separate tickets.

The practical minimum for a traveler is to have their passport, a valid residence document from a country on the UAE list, confirmation of a return or onward flight, an address of stay in the Emirates, insurance, and a time buffer for border control. If a short layover with a city visit is planned, one must realistically estimate the time for passport control, luggage, the way to the hotel or city center, and repeating the procedures before the next flight.

How this affects Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah

For most international tourists, the main gateways remain Dubai Airport (DXB), Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH), and Sharjah Airport (SHJ). A significant portion of flows from Asia, Africa, Europe, and Australia pass through these hubs. If the new category of visa on arrival works without excessive delays, it may increase demand for short city stops and family trips to the Emirates.

Passengers planning to fly out of or into Dubai should check the DXB online board in advance, especially during peak seasons, religious holidays, school vacations, and major events. For Abu Dhabi, similarly, one should follow the AUH online board, and for routes through Sharjah, the SHJ flight status. Visa simplification does not cancel the need for standard logistics: a flight delay, a long queue at control, or a late arrival can change the entire schedule of a short stopover.

For those staying overnight or arriving late in the evening, a practical solution could be booking a hotel near Dubai Airport or a hotel near Abu Dhabi Airport. If the trip involves independent movement between emirates, it is worth separately evaluating transfer or taxi from DXB, transfer from AUH, or car rental at Dubai Airport. For short routes with children or heavy luggage, this is often more important than the difference in ticket price.

Why the rule should not be confused with visa-free entry

The main risk for travelers is reading the news as a full opening of borders for all citizens of the six countries. In reality, the decision has a narrow construction: citizenship plus a valid residency document in a specified country. If a person has only a passport of one of the newly added states, but does not have the corresponding residence permit, they must check standard UAE visa requirements and possibly arrange a permit in advance.

Similarly, the new scheme does not grant the right to work, long-term residence, or automatic multiple-entry. The 60-day permit is described as single-entry and non-extendable, and the 14-day permit is one that can be extended once. If the purpose of the trip goes beyond tourism, a short visit, a family meeting, or ordinary business activities, one must check the specific visa type rather than relying on visa-on-arrival.

For Ukrainian readers, this news may be useful in two scenarios. First, if they travel with friends, colleagues, or family members from one of the six countries and plan a joint route through the UAE. Second, if they work in the tourism sector, organizing corporate trips, cruises, or combined tours through Dubai and Abu Dhabi for international groups. In such cases, different rules for different passports can affect bookings, processing times, and the choice of airline.

What this means for the tourism market

The UAE's decision fits into a broader trend: countries competing for tourists, investors, talents, and transit flows increasingly simplify entry specifically for travelers with an already verified migration status in reliable jurisdictions. For the state, this is a way to reduce administrative barriers while maintaining a certain level of control. For the aviation and tourism business, it is a chance to convert transit traffic into real spending within the country.

The UAE has a particularly strong position in this matter, because their tourism model combines global aviation hubs, a large hotel capacity, shopping and event centers, the cruise segment, and high demand for short city trips. If it is easier for a passenger to leave the transit zone, they may add one or two nights in Dubai, a day in Abu Dhabi, an excursion, shopping, or a family visit. Such small decisions combined form an additional tourist flow.

Why the rule should not be confused with visa-free entry

What this means for the tourism market

For airlines, this is also an argument in sales. A flight with a layover through Dubai, Abu Dhabi, or Sharjah may look more attractive if some passengers know that with the appropriate documents, they can not just wait in the terminal, but legally spend time in the city. At the same time, carriers will have to clearly explain the rules to avoid situations where a passenger arrives at check-in with an incomplete set of documents.

Conclusion

The expansion of UAE visa-on-arrival is strong news for mobile travelers from six countries who already have residency status in the USA, EU, UK, Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, or Canada. It can make trips to Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah easier, especially for short stops and combined routes.

But the practical conclusion is simple: before buying a ticket, you must check not only the passport, but also the residence document, its validity period, the type of visa on arrival, airline rules, and the time buffer at the airport. The new rule opens more opportunities, but does not cancel the basic responsibility of the traveler for documents, stay periods, and realistic route planning.

Sources

Material prepared based on official announcements from ICP and the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as a publication by Gulf News.