United Arab Emirates Expand Visa on Arrival Program to Six New Countries
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) continues to refine its international attractiveness policy by expanding its visa on arrival program to six new countries. This move, while seemingly straightforward, remains highly selective.
According to the official statement, the following countries are now eligible: Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines, Kenya, and South Africa. However, unlike a typical relaxation of tourist visa requirements, this measure is based on an additional filter. Only travelers who already hold a valid residence permit in countries considered "migration references" can benefit from it.
In other words, being a national of one of these six countries is not enough. One must also be a legal resident of the United States, the United Kingdom, a European Union country, Canada, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Australia, or New Zealand.
Two stay options are available:
- 14 days, with the possibility of a single extension on site
- 60 days, non-renewable
The entry fees are set at 100 UAE dirhams for 14 days and 250 dirhams for 60 days, representing a tariff policy modulated according to the duration and expected impact on tourism. In case of overstay, a penalty of 50 AED per day is applied, a deterrent measure that confirms the authorities' intention to maintain strict control over stays.
In fact, the UAE has one of the most powerful passports in the world, with easy access to over 180 destinations for its citizens, and visa-free or simplified entry agreements with over 80 nationalities.
Source: Emirati Ministry of Foreign Affairs
