The UAE has recently introduced several important changes to visa rules. If you are planning to study, work, or send students to the UAE, here’s a simple summary of what has changed and what it means for you.
🆕 New Visit Visa Categories
The UAE now offers four new visit visas. These are designed to attract talent and visitors in specific fields:
- Entertainment Visa → for artists, performers, and creatives
- Event Visa → for conferences, exhibitions, festivals, and other events
- Cruise/Leisure Visa → for cruise ship passengers and leisure travellers
- AI Specialist Visa → for professionals in Artificial Intelligence
Each visa has clear conditions for duration, sponsorship, and extensions. Learn more about UAE visas of the UAE Government website.
New Income Rules for Sponsors
If a UAE resident (for example, a parent, friend, or relative) wants to sponsor a visitor, they now need to meet minimum salary requirements:
- AED 4,000/month → to sponsor immediate family (spouse, children, parents)
- AED 8,000/month → to sponsor second/third-degree relatives (siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins)
- AED 15,000/month → to sponsor friends or non-relatives
👉 This ensures sponsors can financially support their guests.
Support for Widows & Divorced Women
Women who were sponsored by their husband can now apply for their own residence permit after divorce or the husband’s death. The residence permit is valid for 1 year and can be renewed. This provides security and stability for families in difficult situations.
New Application Requirements
When applying for an entry permit or visa, applicants must now submit:
- The bio-data page of the passport (the usual first page with photo)
- The outer cover page of the passport (new requirement)
Overstay Penalties
Overstaying any visa (visit, tourist, or residence) now results in a fine of AED 50 per day.
!! Always check visa expiry dates and apply for extensions on time.
Other Important Updates
- Golden Visa Expansion → new categories, including recognition of outstanding talent and educators.
- Domestic Worker Visa Platform → a new online system called Work in UAE makes it easier to issue, renew, or cancel visas for domestic workers.
- GCC Unified Tourist Visa (coming soon) → one visa will allow travel across all 6 Gulf countries (UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman).
- EU Travel (for UAE students going abroad) → From October 2025, the EU has launched a new Entry/Exit System (EES). All UAE travellers must provide biometric data (fingerprints + facial scan) when entering Schengen countries.
🎓 What This Means for Students & Partners
- Easier to attend events, conferences, and short courses in the UAE with the new Event Visa.
- More clarity on sponsorship requirements, helping families plan.
- Greater protection for women and dependents already living in the UAE.
- More opportunities for long-term residency through the Golden Visa programme.
The UAE is continuing to make travel smoother (digital systems, faster airport clearance).
✅ The UAE remains one of the easiest and safest countries in the Middle East for international students.
✅ These new rules make the process more transparent and student-friendly.
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