The United Arab Emirates announced on June 25, 2026 that it will grant visa on arrival to nationals of six countries, according to the Emirates News Agency. The policy applies at all air, land and sea entry points and covers stays of up to 30 days with an option for extension. WAM reported the decision forms part of ongoing measures to simplify travel procedures for visitors from strategically important markets.
WAM’s dispatch placed the announcement within the UAE’s wider immigration reforms that have progressively expanded eligible nationalities since the pandemic. The Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security will administer the new facility under existing health and security protocols. Travellers must hold valid passports with at least six months’ validity along with return tickets and proof of sufficient funds, the authority’s guidelines show.
Public data from the Department of Economy and Tourism indicated the UAE welcomed more than 17 million international visitors in 2025, a figure that has steadily recovered from pandemic lows. The World Travel and Tourism Council reported the sector contributed nearly 12 percent to national GDP last year. This latest visa adjustment seeks to sustain that momentum by broadening source markets, according to the WAM report.
The UAE maintains one of the region’s most open travel regimes, with visa-on-arrival or visa-free access already extended to citizens of more than 80 countries, according to ICP compilations. The addition of six further nationalities aligns with national strategies outlined in the We the UAE 2031 vision that identifies tourism as a core pillar of economic diversification. Earlier expansions, including updates for Indian nationals in February 2025, produced measurable increases in arrivals from those markets, prior WAM coverage showed.
Industry assessments from PwC Middle East have projected the GCC tourism sector to register compound annual growth of around 6 percent through 2030 on the back of eased mobility measures. The consultancy’s review of regional visitor trends identified simplified visa processes as a decisive factor in destination choice. The UAE’s move therefore fits a pattern observed across Gulf states that have similarly adjusted policies to capture higher spending from leisure and business travellers.
Officials at the authority have reminded applicants that the visa-on-arrival facility remains subject to final approval at the point of entry. The ICP has published updated lists on its official portal to help travellers confirm eligibility before departure. Bilateral tourism agreements and air connectivity improvements with the six countries have laid the groundwork for the policy change, according to the WAM statement.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs noted in related briefings that such facilitations also support people-to-people ties and trade volumes that reached record levels in 2025. Central Bank of the UAE statistics placed tourism-related foreign exchange inflows among the fastest-growing components of non-oil revenue last year. The new visa measure therefore forms one element in a coordinated approach linking immigration policy with economic objectives.
