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Dubai Expands Visa-on-Arrival Access and Relaxes Property Residency Criteria

Dubai authorities have revised entry and residency rules, widening visa-on-arrival eligibility and easing property investor visa criteria. The Dubai Land Department removed the previous AED 750,000 threshold for sole property owners applying for two-year residency.

Published Source: The Economic Times
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Summary of official information. Always check the official source and follow the guidance of the authorities. UECN does not issue risk ratings; the absence of an alert does not mean that a destination is safe.

Issuing authority
Dubai Land Department
Jurisdiction
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Publication date
November 10, 2026
Stage
Final rule
Illustration: Editorial photograph of modern residential skyscrapers and apartment developments in Dubai under clear daylight, with clean architectura
Illustration

Dubai authorities have implemented an overhaul of entry and residency frameworks covering visa-on-arrival access, tourist permits, and property-linked visas.

Under the updated rules, ordinary passport holders from India, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines, Kenya, and South Africa who hold valid residency in countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union, or Japan can obtain visas on arrival for periods of 14, 28, or 60 days. Additionally, standard 30-day and 60-day tourist visas are now eligible for expedited 48-hour processing through official carrier and hotel channels.

In the real estate sector, the Dubai Land Department removed the prior AED 750,000 property value minimum for sole property owners applying for two-year investor residency. For co-owned assets, the minimum investment threshold has been set at AED 400,000 per investor.

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