What were the major UAE visa changes introduced in 2025, and how do they affect visitors, expats and residents?

In 2025, the UAE rolled out 11 significant visa updates, including four new visit-visa categories for AI specialists, entertainers, events and cruise tourism; new minimum salary requirements for residents sponsoring visitors; expanded visa-on-arrival eligibility for Indian nationals; a five-year multiple-entry tourist visa for Pakistanis; mandatory submission of the passport’s cover page for entry permits; and a new Dubai pilot linking visa renewals to settlement of traffic fines. The year also saw major Golden Visa expansions — for nurses, content creators, and Waqf donors — along with new consular services for Golden Visa holders, plus the introduction of a 180-day multiple-entry permit to facilitate applications for the 10-year Blue Residency for environmental contributors. Which of these changes do you think will have the biggest impact, and do they make the UAE’s visa system more accessible or more complex?

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