The United Arab Emirates has unveiled significant changes to its visa regulations, introducing new categories designed to attract skilled individuals and provide support to those in need.
Among the new visa categories is a special visa tailored for artificial intelligence (AI) experts, as well as an event visa for attendees of festivals, exhibitions, conferences, and sporting events. Additionally, tourists arriving by cruise ships or leisure boats can now apply for a multiple-entry maritime visa.
In a notable humanitarian gesture, the UAE will offer one-year residence permits to individuals escaping conflicts or natural disasters, without the need for a sponsor. Furthermore, widows and divorced women will have the opportunity to secure residency without sponsorship.
Regarding visit visas, sponsors are required to meet specific income criteria: AED 4,000 for first-degree relatives, AED 8,000 for second or third-degree relatives, and AED 15,000 to sponsor a friend. Business visas will mandate proof of financial stability or ownership of a foreign company, while foreign truck drivers will only be eligible for visas under the sponsorship of licensed freight or transport companies.
Officials emphasized that these reforms are integral to the UAE's broader strategy of attracting global talent, fostering technological advancements, and solidifying its position as a pivotal center for trade, tourism, and innovation.
