Qatar’s Ministry of Interior has quietly overhauled its Hayya platform in the run-up to the 2025 FIFA Arab Cup, doubling the authorised stay for GCC-resident permit holders from 30 to 60 days and converting the pass into a true multiple-entry visa. The update, released late on 29 November and live on 30 November, directly benefits the hundreds of thousands of UAE residents who constitute the largest bloc of cross-border spectators after Saudis.
Beyond the football hype, the change removes a major friction point for UAE-based consultants, engineers and project auditors whose Doha assignments previously had to be compressed into 30-day sprints or broken up by costly visa-run flights. Mobility teams can now schedule two-month rotations, align hand-overs with match fixtures, and avoid re-entry fees. Airline planners expect a 15 per cent bump in December load factors on the Dubai-Doha corridor, while hotel operators in Doha have already reopened wait-lists for long-stay corporate blocks.
![Qatar doubles Hayya stay for GCC residents – big win for UAE-based business travellers]()
The longer validity also feeds into a broader GCC discussion about a Schengen-style joint tourist visa, now pencilled in for a 2026 pilot. Travel-industry bodies argue that Qatar’s agile tweak underscores how flexible entry regimes stimulate both tourism and professional mobility. In parallel, flydubai and Qatar Airways are adding extra frequencies, and the Doha Metro has confirmed extended operating hours during the tournament.
Action points: • UAE residents must upload a copy of their Emirates ID and valid residency when applying through Hayya. • Processing averages 48 hours but could lengthen as Cup demand spikes; mobility managers should submit group files early. • Check insurance clauses: policies must now cover a 60-day window. • Ensure staff have exit-re-entry permission on their UAE residence visas before departure.
Beyond the football hype, the change removes a major friction point for UAE-based consultants, engineers and project auditors whose Doha assignments previously had to be compressed into 30-day sprints or broken up by costly visa-run flights. Mobility teams can now schedule two-month rotations, align hand-overs with match fixtures, and avoid re-entry fees. Airline planners expect a 15 per cent bump in December load factors on the Dubai-Doha corridor, while hotel operators in Doha have already reopened wait-lists for long-stay corporate blocks.
The longer validity also feeds into a broader GCC discussion about a Schengen-style joint tourist visa, now pencilled in for a 2026 pilot. Travel-industry bodies argue that Qatar’s agile tweak underscores how flexible entry regimes stimulate both tourism and professional mobility. In parallel, flydubai and Qatar Airways are adding extra frequencies, and the Doha Metro has confirmed extended operating hours during the tournament.
Action points: • UAE residents must upload a copy of their Emirates ID and valid residency when applying through Hayya. • Processing averages 48 hours but could lengthen as Cup demand spikes; mobility managers should submit group files early. • Check insurance clauses: policies must now cover a 60-day window. • Ensure staff have exit-re-entry permission on their UAE residence visas before departure.
