In a surprise year-end move, the UAE Cabinet has approved a sweeping rewrite of the country’s immigration rule-book, adding four completely new visit-visa purposes aimed at plugging skills gaps and boosting key service sectors. Published on 27 December and taking effect immediately, the resolution introduces (1) an AI-Specialist Visa for artificial-intelligence scientists, data engineers and other frontier-tech experts, (2) an Entertainment Visa tailored to performers and crew, (3) an Events Visa for conference and exhibition organisers, and (4) a Maritime-Tourism Visa for super-yacht crew and cruise-industry personnel. Companies licensed in each field can sponsor single- or multiple-entry permits valid for up to 90 days, renewable on-shore at a fraction of the cost of a standard one-year employment residence visa.
Background sources in Dubai’s free zones say the Specialist Visa alone will save employers nearly AED 10,000 in deposits, medicals and Emirates-ID fees per candidate while giving firms a flexible “test-drive” period to assess talent before committing to full sponsorship. The change is also expected to reduce so-called “shadow contracting” in which freelancers operate on tourist visas, a longstanding compliance headache for mobility managers.
For multinationals, the immediate action point is policy review. HR teams must update assignment-letter templates, health-insurance matrices and per-diem schedules because the new categories are formally classified as “visit” not “residence” visas, affecting dependants’ rights and schooling options. Payroll teams should flag that visa holders remain outside the UAE’s social-security net and are not currently caught by the forthcoming 2026 income-tax regime.
![UAE Cabinet unveils biggest visa overhaul since 2019, adds four specialist visit-visa categories]()
Businesses that need hands-on assistance with the new permits can leverage VisaHQ’s expertise; the firm’s dedicated UAE platform (https://www.visahq.com/united-arab-emirates/) streamlines application filings, tracks approvals in real time and handles renewals for all four visa types, allowing HR and mobility teams to stay compliant without drowning in paperwork.
Practically, the biggest win is speed. Immigration advisers report that applications for the AI-Specialist Visa can be filed fully on-line via the ICP portal, with approvals inside 48 hours if corporate licences clearly list AI activities. That is a significant upgrade from the two-week processing time typical for standard mission visas. Companies already onboarding tech talent for Q1 projects are urged to switch to the new route immediately.
For the UAE’s wider talent agenda, the overhaul signals that sector-specific entry permits are back on the policy menu. Observers expect additional categories—such as FinTech and Gaming—to appear in 2026 as the emirates compete for niche skills and align visa strategy with their economic-cluster roadmaps.
Background sources in Dubai’s free zones say the Specialist Visa alone will save employers nearly AED 10,000 in deposits, medicals and Emirates-ID fees per candidate while giving firms a flexible “test-drive” period to assess talent before committing to full sponsorship. The change is also expected to reduce so-called “shadow contracting” in which freelancers operate on tourist visas, a longstanding compliance headache for mobility managers.
For multinationals, the immediate action point is policy review. HR teams must update assignment-letter templates, health-insurance matrices and per-diem schedules because the new categories are formally classified as “visit” not “residence” visas, affecting dependants’ rights and schooling options. Payroll teams should flag that visa holders remain outside the UAE’s social-security net and are not currently caught by the forthcoming 2026 income-tax regime.
Businesses that need hands-on assistance with the new permits can leverage VisaHQ’s expertise; the firm’s dedicated UAE platform (https://www.visahq.com/united-arab-emirates/) streamlines application filings, tracks approvals in real time and handles renewals for all four visa types, allowing HR and mobility teams to stay compliant without drowning in paperwork.
Practically, the biggest win is speed. Immigration advisers report that applications for the AI-Specialist Visa can be filed fully on-line via the ICP portal, with approvals inside 48 hours if corporate licences clearly list AI activities. That is a significant upgrade from the two-week processing time typical for standard mission visas. Companies already onboarding tech talent for Q1 projects are urged to switch to the new route immediately.
For the UAE’s wider talent agenda, the overhaul signals that sector-specific entry permits are back on the policy menu. Observers expect additional categories—such as FinTech and Gaming—to appear in 2026 as the emirates compete for niche skills and align visa strategy with their economic-cluster roadmaps.
