Dubai to accept tourist visa applications on Visit Dubai site from November 2026

Dubai visitors will be able to request a tourist visa on the emirate's official tourism site, Visit Dubai, starting in November 2026. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, announced the change on 1 November 2026. He presented it together with a second initiative, the Dubai Access Club.

The service will cover both single-entry and multiple-entry visas. Gulf News reported that more visa categories are planned. The General Directorate of Identity and Foreigners Affairs in Dubai (GDRFA Dubai) will keep reviewing applications and issuing the visas. More details of the service are due to be announced later.

The Dubai Access Club is a membership programme open by invitation only and aimed at repeat visitors. It is designed to give members exclusive experiences, services and benefits, and to make returning to Dubai easier. Khaleej Times described it as the first city-wide tourism loyalty programme of its kind.

GDRFA Dubai, the Department of Economy and Tourism and Digital Dubai are jointly developing both initiatives. They fall under the Shared Digital Channels Initiative, which Sheikh Hamdan approved in February 2025 and which aims to bring government services together on unified digital platforms.

Visit Dubai already carries information on attractions, experiences, ticket bookings, events and itineraries. After the integration, travellers will be able to use these services and apply for a visa in one place, instead of moving between several websites and apps.

Lieutenant General Mohammed Ahmed Al Marri, Director General of GDRFA Dubai, said the service would simplify government procedures while maintaining security and efficiency.

For visitors planning a trip, visa application and trip planning will be available on the same site. Accommodation options are listed in the DoBy hotels catalogue.