1 November 2026
On Sunday 1 November 2026 Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, announced two tourism measures that will be implemented during November 2026. Travellers will be able to apply for single-entry and multiple-entry tourist visas directly on Visit Dubai, the city’s official tourism website, while GDRFA Dubai continues to assess applications and issue visas. In parallel Dubai is launching Dubai Access Club, an invitation-only membership programme with exclusive experiences and benefits for repeat visitors. Fees, processing times and the exact start date of the visa service have not been published yet.
What Dubai announced on 1 November 2026
The two initiatives were developed by the General Directorate of Identity and Foreigners Affairs in Dubai (GDRFA Dubai), the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) and Digital Dubai under the Shared Digital Channels Initiative. Sheikh Hamdan approved that initiative in February 2025. It is led by Digital Dubai and brings public and private sector services together on seven unified digital platforms, using technologies such as artificial intelligence to personalise services.
Both measures are tied to the Dubai Economic Agenda D33 and its goal of placing Dubai among the world’s top three destinations for business and leisure. Sheikh Hamdan described tourism as a key pillar of Dubai’s economy and said the aim is to attract more investment through technology, innovation and partnerships between the public and private sectors.
Three heads of the participating entities commented on the launch: Helal Saeed Almarri, Director General of DET, Lieutenant General Mohammed Ahmed Al Marri, Director General of GDRFA Dubai, and Hamad Obaid Al Mansoori, Director General of Digital Dubai.
Tourist visas on Visit Dubai: what changes
Visit Dubai already gives travellers information on attractions and experiences, ticket booking, events and trip itineraries. The new service adds a government procedure to the same platform. According to the announcement, Visit Dubai will offer:
- applications for single-entry tourist visas;
- applications for multiple-entry tourist visas;
- further visa categories at a later stage, which have not been named.
The division of roles stays the same. GDRFA Dubai remains responsible for assessing every application and for issuing the visa, so Visit Dubai becomes an application channel, not a new issuing authority. The government says further details of the service will be announced in due course.
Until now, travellers who need a visa before arriving in Dubai have usually applied through licensed tourism offices, airlines and hotels or through the channels of GDRFA Dubai itself. Citizens of many countries enter the UAE without a visa arranged in advance, so the new channel matters mainly for nationalities that must obtain a visa before travel.
What is still unknown at the time of publication:
- the date in November 2026 when applications open on Visit Dubai;
- government fees and service charges for visas applied for through the portal;
- processing times and the validity periods offered for each visa type;
- the list of documents and the nationalities that can use the service;
- which visa categories will be added next.
Dubai Access Club: membership for repeat visitors
Dubai Media Office describes Dubai Access Club as the world’s first city-led, invitation-only tourism membership programme. Invited members will receive exclusive experiences, services and benefits designed to make returning to Dubai easier and to give visitors more reasons to come back. The programme is meant to bring together offers and benefits on one membership platform.
The specific perks, the criteria for receiving an invitation and the list of partner businesses have not been disclosed. In his comments Helal Saeed Almarri stressed collaboration between government and the private sector. Terms for businesses that want to offer benefits to members have not been published.
The numbers behind the announcement
The measures come as Dubai’s visitor numbers recover from a sharp drop in hotel occupancy in March 2026. Government figures cited by The National show the following:
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| International visitors in 2025 | 19.59 million |
| International visitors, January to August 2026 | 6.97 million |
| International overnight visitors, August 2026 | 869,000, the highest since February |
| Hotel occupancy, August 2026 | 66 per cent |
| Hotel occupancy, March 2026 | 36 per cent |
| Economic incentive package approved in May 2026 | AED 1.5 billion |
The May package included the suspension of the nightly hotel fee, which is AED 20 in higher-tier hotels, and of the 7 per cent municipal fee on hotel and restaurant bills. The A Dubai Invite campaign, in which residents nominated friends and family abroad for visit packages, closed registrations in September after receiving more than 90,000 applications. We covered its launch in our article on A Dubai Invite tripling its capacity.
What it means for companies in Dubai
For businesses the visa service is the more practical of the two measures. Companies that host foreign partners, clients, event guests or job candidates will be able to point visitors who need a visa to one official website, where they can also book tickets and plan the trip. Until fees and processing times are published, current application channels remain the reliable option for trips with fixed dates.
A tourist visa covers visits, not employment. A person who will work for a Dubai company needs a work permit and a residence visa sponsored by the employer, and a founder who decides to stay after a visit needs a residence visa, for example as an investor or partner of a registered company. Our UAE residency visa guide explains the main routes, and the work visa and residency service covers sponsorship for employees and family members.
For hotels, attractions, restaurants and tour operators, the relevant next step is the publication of partner terms for Dubai Access Club, since the programme is built around exclusive offers and benefits for members.
Checklist for companies inviting guests to Dubai
- Check whether each guest’s nationality can enter the UAE without a visa arranged in advance.
- For guests who need a visa, plan around confirmed dates: the opening date, fees and processing times on Visit Dubai are not yet public.
- For frequent visitors, compare a multiple-entry tourist visa with a residence option if the person will spend long periods in Dubai.
- Do not let guests start working on a tourist visa: employment requires a work permit and a residence visa.
- Keep an eye on official announcements from GDRFA Dubai and DET for the service details and the first additional visa categories.
How Atlant Capital can help
Visas are issued by GDRFA Dubai, and a tourist visa is applied for by the traveller. Our work starts when a visit turns into a business decision. We help entrepreneurs choose a free zone or mainland structure and register the company through our company setup service, then arrange investor, partner and employee visas and family sponsorship. If you are coming to Dubai to explore the market, we can tell you in advance which documents incorporation will require, so the visit ends with a clear plan.
Conclusion
From November 2026 Dubai moves the tourist visa application onto its official tourism platform for single-entry and multiple-entry visas, with GDRFA Dubai still deciding on every application, and adds an invitation-only club for repeat visitors. Both steps target the D33 goal of a top three global destination after 6.97 million international visitors in the first eight months of 2026. The practical details, including the start date, fees and processing times, are still to be announced.
Source: The National.
FAQ
Can I apply for a Dubai tourist visa on Visit Dubai?
Yes, once the service goes live. Dubai announced on 1 November 2026 that Visit Dubai, the official tourism website, will accept applications for single-entry and multiple-entry tourist visas during November 2026. The exact start date, fees and processing times have not been published yet.
Who decides on tourist visas applied for through Visit Dubai?
GDRFA Dubai, the General Directorate of Identity and Foreigners Affairs in Dubai. It remains responsible for assessing applications and issuing visas. Visit Dubai only becomes an additional application channel under the Shared Digital Channels Initiative.
What is Dubai Access Club and how do you join?
Dubai Access Club is an invitation-only membership programme for repeat visitors to Dubai, launched in November 2026. Invited members receive exclusive experiences, services and benefits. The selection criteria and the specific perks have not been disclosed, so it is not possible to apply on your own at this stage.
Can I work in Dubai on a tourist visa?
No. A tourist visa allows visits only. To work for a company in Dubai you need a work permit and a residence visa sponsored by your employer, and founders need a registered company and an investor or partner visa.
