Dubai's General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) has set out the conditions for the UAE's five-year multiple-entry tourist visa, which is open to all nationalities and requires no sponsor or host, state media reported on July 16.

The clarification lands with the emirate's population engine running at a fraction of its pre-war speed. Dubai was growing at around 6% y/y before the February 28 Iranian missile strikes on UAE territory.

Analysts at Citi Bank now assume 1% growth for 2026, with 2%–2.5% projected annually thereafter, according to Reuters. The UAE has not linked the visa clarification to that slowdown, and the product itself predates the conflict.

The self-sponsored visa permits multiple entries and exits across its five-year validity. Holders may stay for up to 90 days per visit, extendable by a further 90 days, but total time in the country must not exceed 180 days in a year. It carries no work rights.

Applicants must provide a passport valid for at least six months, a recent photograph, health insurance, a return ticket and bank statements for the previous six months. They must show a bank balance of at least $4,000, or the equivalent in another currency, across those six months.

The total application cost is AED3,713 ($1,011), covering visa fees, service charges and a refundable financial guarantee. Final costs may vary depending on individual circumstances.

Applications can be made through the UAE's digital platforms and smart applications, or in person at Customer Happiness Centres and Amer Service Centres.

The tourist visa sits alongside the Golden Visa in a widening set of long-stay routes. Dubai has issued 66,000 Golden Visas, with uptake of the five-year tourist visa rising over the same period.

Temporary immigrants account for roughly 88% of the UAE's population.account for roughly 88% of the UAE's population, which estimates put at 11.5mn to 11.8mn in 2026, against about 9.5mn in 2023. Dubai passed 4mn residents in August 2025 and projects 5mn by 2030.

Visa holders are responsible for tracking their own permitted stay. Entry and exit records can be checked through a travel movement report to avoid overstaying penalties.