(UNITED ARAB EMBATES) — The United Arab Emirates expanded its Entry Visa for Nationals of Certain Countries scheme in 2026, opening a conditional visa-on-arrival route to travelers from India, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines, Kenya and South Africa who also hold valid residence permits from a list of approved countries.

The change adds a new layer to UAE entry rules that already split visitors into several categories: citizens of Gulf Cooperation Council states who enter without a visa, passport holders from some countries who receive visa-free entry for 30 days or 90 days, and travelers who still need to arrange a tourist or visit visa before departure.

Residence Permit Requirement

Nationality alone does not secure entry under the expanded scheme. Travelers from the seven listed countries must also hold a valid residence permit from the United States, European Union member states, United Kingdom, Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand or Canada.

That makes the update narrower than a blanket visa-free policy, even as the United Arab Emirates remains one of the easier Gulf destinations for many international visitors. A passport from one of the seven countries is not enough on its own for this route.

GCC Citizens and Visa-Free Entry

Citizens of Gulf Cooperation Council countries remain in the simplest category. Nationals of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and Saudi Arabia can generally enter the UAE with a valid passport or national ID and do not need to apply for a tourist visa or seek visa-on-arrival in the usual sense.

90-Day Visa-Free Countries

Another group of travelers can enter the UAE without applying in advance and stay for up to 90 days within a 180-day period. Multiple entries may be allowed, provided the total stay does not exceed the permitted limit during that window.

The 90-day category covers 49 countries, from Andorra to Uruguay. It includes countries such as Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Portugal, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and Uruguay.

That route suits tourists, family visitors, short business visitors and transit travelers seeking a longer stay without arranging a visa before leaving home. Entry permission still rests with immigration authorities at the port of entry.

30-Day Visa-Free Countries

A separate category allows nationals of more than 30 countries to enter for up to 30 days without arranging a visa in advance. In many cases, a further 30-day extension may be possible, though extension rules and fees can change.

Countries commonly listed under that 30-day entry category include Australia, Canada, China, including Hong Kong SAR and Macau SAR, New Zealand, Russia, Ukraine, United Kingdom and United States. The list also includes Bahamas, Barbados, Brunei, Colombia, Ecuador, Guernsey, Isle of Man, Jersey, Kazakhstan, Maldives, Mauritius, Mexico, Peru, Seychelles and South Africa.

Some countries appear in more than one UAE entry list depending on the source, passport type, entry route and immigration category. That overlap matters for travelers trying to determine whether they qualify for visa-free entry, a visa-on-arrival option or a pre-arranged visa.

2026 Expansion Details

The 2026 expansion centers on the UAE’s Entry Visa for Nationals of Certain Countries, a category that had been tied mainly to eligible Indian nationals before authorities added six more nationalities. Those additions were Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines, Kenya and South Africa.

Eligible travelers under that scheme can receive either a 14-day visa or a 60-day visa, depending on the category used at entry. The 14-day visa can be extended once during the stay, while the 60-day visa is single-entry and cannot be extended.

The fee for the 14-day visa is AED 100. The fee for the 60-day visa is AED 250. Travelers who overstay face a fine of AED 50 per day.

Indian Travelers and the Scheme

Indian travelers remain at the center of the scheme because the UAE has long been a destination for tourism, work, family visits and business travel from India. Indian citizens who hold a valid U.S. Green Card, U.K. residence visa, EU residence visa or another residence permit from an approved country may qualify for easier UAE entry through this route.

Dubai has traditionally maintained a 14-day visa facility for Indian citizens holding an ordinary passport together with a U.S. Green Card, U.K. residence visa or EU residence visa. The newer ICP update broadens the scheme by recognizing more residence-permit countries.

That means an Indian citizen living in Canada with a valid Canadian residence permit may qualify. The same logic applies to a Thai citizen with valid residence in Japan or a Vietnamese citizen with valid residence in Canada.

Filipino and Other Nationalities

Filipino travelers are now part of the same structure. A Filipino passport holder who also has a valid residence permit from an approved country may use a simpler UAE entry route for tourism, family visits, events, short business trips and stopovers.

Filipino nationals who do not hold a qualifying residence permit cannot assume they will receive visa-on-arrival under the expansion. They may still need to apply for a UAE tourist or visit visa before travel.

The updated rule also opens a path for travelers from Southeast Asia and Africa who live outside their home countries. Indonesian, Vietnamese and Thai nationals with residence permits from approved countries may qualify, as may Kenyan and South African travelers who hold residence permits in countries such as the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the United States or EU member states.

South African travelers face an added layer because South Africa also appears in some 30-day entry lists. That makes document checks more important, since the category can turn on the passport presented, the residence status held and the travel route used.

Documentation and Compliance

Travelers seeking visa-free entry or a visa-on-arrival in the United Arab Emirates are expected to carry a passport valid for at least six months. Those relying on the special route must also carry the qualifying residence permit and, where applicable, a valid U.S. Green Card, U.K. residence visa, EU residence permit or another accepted residence document.

Airlines may check eligibility before boarding. Immigration officers on arrival may also ask for a return or onward ticket, hotel booking or UAE address, travel insurance if required, proof of funds if requested, and family documents for accompanying dependents.

Residence cards and residence permits may also need to remain valid for a minimum period beyond the date of entry. Some UAE visa categories require the supporting residence document to have at least six months of validity.

Work Restrictions and Other Visa Options

Neither visa-free entry nor visa-on-arrival gives a traveler the right to work in the UAE. Those routes cover tourism, visits, meetings, events and other short stays, but employment requires the proper work permit, employment visa or residence status.

Working on a tourist or visit entry can bring immigration penalties and future entry problems. Travelers planning to take up employment must use the separate work and residence process instead of relying on short-stay entry options.

People whose nationality does not fall into a visa-free or visa-on-arrival category usually need a tourist visa or visit visa before departure. Depending on the case, that visa may be arranged through UAE-based airlines, hotels or travel agencies, UAE residents sponsoring relatives or friends, GDRFA Dubai, ICP smart services or authorized visa service providers.

The UAE also offers other visit categories, including tourist visas, family visit visas, business or job exploration visas and the five-year multiple-entry tourist visa. Which route applies depends on nationality, residence status and the purpose of the trip.

Common Mistakes and Final Notes

Misreading the rules remains one of the easiest ways for travelers to run into trouble. A country’s presence on a general entry list does not settle every case, because passport type, residence status, point of entry and immigration category can all affect eligibility.

Another common mistake is treating a visitor visa from an approved country as if it were the same as a residence permit. Under the expanded Entry Visa for Nationals of Certain Countries route, the residence permit is a separate condition, not a formality.

Last-minute document checks can also derail a trip. Airline staff can deny boarding if a passenger cannot prove eligibility for the route claimed, especially where the United Arab Emirates applies a conditional visa-on-arrival rule rather than a simple visa-free regime.

The result is a broader but still structured entry system. GCC citizens continue to move through the lightest process, dozens of nationalities retain visa-free access for 30 days or 90 days, and travelers from seven additional countries now have a new path if they can show the residence permits the UAE requires.

That leaves the 2026 update less as a blanket opening than a document-driven expansion. Travelers from India, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines, Kenya and South Africa gained access to a new route, but only if the residence permit in their passport file is as valid as the passport itself.