The Ministry of Economy and Tourism quietly refreshed its Entry-Requirements portal on 22 February, consolidating links to federal and emirate-level e-visa channels—including Emirates, Etihad, Flydubai and Air Arabia visa desks—into a single reference page.(moet.gov.ae)
The update, time-stamped 13:54 GST, clarifies which nationalities can rely on airline-sponsored tourist visas versus direct applications through the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (ICP) or the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA). It also adds a new section listing visa-exempt categories and expanded live-chat support, part of the UAE’s broader digital-government push toward “100 % paperless” travel documentation by 2027.
For corporate mobility teams juggling multiple visa routes for short-term assignees, the consolidation reduces confusion over channel choice and processing fees. The portal now auto-redirects users based on IP-detected nationality, displaying only relevant visa types—transit, 30-day single-entry, 60-day multiple-entry or remote-work permits—thereby cutting application abandonment rates noted in a 2025 Deloitte study.
![UAE Updates Official Portal, Streamlines Electronic Entry-Visa Applications]()
VisaHQ’s online platform can further streamline applications for companies and individual travelers alike. By aggregating the latest requirements and offering document upload, courier and tracking tools for UAE tourist and business visas, VisaHQ (https://www.visahq.com/united-arab-emirates/) provides a single dashboard that mirrors the new government portal while adding proactive alerts when rules change.
Travel consultants say the clearer guidance could curb reliance on unregulated third-party agencies—a common pain-point that has led to application rejections and compliance risks for multinationals. The ministry plans to add a wallet-based payment option linked to the UAE Pass digital ID by Q3 2026, further expediting approvals.
Companies should update staff travel guides and intranets with the new URL structure and encourage employees to verify real-time eligibility, especially when using visa-on-arrival privileges that can shift with short notice as demonstrated during recent health emergencies.
The update, time-stamped 13:54 GST, clarifies which nationalities can rely on airline-sponsored tourist visas versus direct applications through the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (ICP) or the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA). It also adds a new section listing visa-exempt categories and expanded live-chat support, part of the UAE’s broader digital-government push toward “100 % paperless” travel documentation by 2027.
For corporate mobility teams juggling multiple visa routes for short-term assignees, the consolidation reduces confusion over channel choice and processing fees. The portal now auto-redirects users based on IP-detected nationality, displaying only relevant visa types—transit, 30-day single-entry, 60-day multiple-entry or remote-work permits—thereby cutting application abandonment rates noted in a 2025 Deloitte study.
VisaHQ’s online platform can further streamline applications for companies and individual travelers alike. By aggregating the latest requirements and offering document upload, courier and tracking tools for UAE tourist and business visas, VisaHQ (https://www.visahq.com/united-arab-emirates/) provides a single dashboard that mirrors the new government portal while adding proactive alerts when rules change.
Travel consultants say the clearer guidance could curb reliance on unregulated third-party agencies—a common pain-point that has led to application rejections and compliance risks for multinationals. The ministry plans to add a wallet-based payment option linked to the UAE Pass digital ID by Q3 2026, further expediting approvals.
Companies should update staff travel guides and intranets with the new URL structure and encourage employees to verify real-time eligibility, especially when using visa-on-arrival privileges that can shift with short notice as demonstrated during recent health emergencies.
