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UAE Visit Visa Rules 2025: New Salary Requirements and Categories Explained

The UAE has introduced new visit visa regulations that directly affect residents looking to sponsor family, relatives, or friends. The updated rules, announced by the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP), aim to increase clarity, enhance transparency, and align with the country’s broader economic and social objectives. A key highlight is the introduction of minimum salary thresholds for sponsors, alongside new visa categories for specialists and professionals.

New Salary Requirements for Sponsors

Sponsoring relatives and friends on a UAE visit visa now depends on the monthly income of the resident sponsor. The ICP has categorized eligibility into four distinct groups based on kinship and relationship:

  • First-degree relatives – Father, mother, spouse, son, daughter.
    Minimum salary: AED 4,000 per month
  • Second-degree relatives – Siblings, grandparents, grandchildren.
    Minimum salary: AED 8,000 per month
  • Third-degree relatives – Uncles, aunts, cousins.
    Minimum salary: AED 8,000 per month
  • Friends (non-relatives)
    Minimum salary: AED 15,000 per month

Applicants must provide proof of kinship when applying for visas for relatives, along with essential documents such as:

  • A passport valid for at least six months
  • A return travel ticket

Visa Durations and Extensions

The updated framework outlines six types of permitted stays under visit visas, simplifying procedures and reducing confusion. Depending on the type of visa, durations vary, and applicants can request extensions based on eligibility. These changes improve flexibility while ensuring that processes remain streamlined for both residents and visitors.

Four New Visit Visa Categories

The UAE has also launched four specialized visit visa categories designed to attract professionals and talent in high-growth sectors. These include specialists in:

  • Artificial intelligence
  • Entertainment and events
  • Cruise ships
  • Luxury yachts and leisure vessels

This targeted approach reflects the UAE’s strategy to enhance its competitiveness, foster innovation, and support sectors that are central to the nation’s economic diversification.

Additional Amendments and Provisions

Beyond visit visas, the decision also introduced significant amendments to residency and business-related permits:

  • Humanitarian Residence Permits – Issued for one year, renewable under defined conditions.
  • Residency for Widows and Divorced Women – Eligible for residence without a sponsor, renewable under certain terms.
  • Business Exploration Visa – Requires financial solvency, ownership of a share in an existing company outside the UAE, or proven professional practice.
  • Truck Drivers’ Visa – Available for single or multiple trips, with conditions including sponsorship by a shipping or goods transport company, financial guarantees, and health coverage.

Strategic Purpose of the Changes

According to Major General Suhail Saeed Al Khaili, Director General of the ICP, these amendments are the result of comprehensive studies into local, regional, and global residency trends. They are designed to improve the UAE’s quality of life, strengthen trade and transport, and support emerging sectors such as technology and logistics.

The ICP emphasized that feedback from stakeholders, customer councils, and public platforms helped shape the new regulations. This consultative process ensures that the updated framework not only addresses immediate challenges but also positions the UAE as a forward-looking hub for residency, investment, and talent attraction.

What This Means for Residents and Visitors

For residents, the changes clarify obligations and prevent disputes over who can sponsor whom, and under what financial conditions. For visitors, the new categories open opportunities for professionals in specialized industries, while family members benefit from greater transparency in sponsorship rules.

Overall, the reforms reinforce Dubai and the UAE’s reputation as one of the most stable and transparent real estate and residency environments in the region, ensuring long-term confidence for investors, residents, and international talent alike.

Final takeaway: Whether sponsoring relatives, friends, or inviting professionals from abroad, UAE residents must now consider the salary thresholds and updated visa categories. These changes underline the UAE’s commitment to balancing inclusivity with structured regulation, ensuring growth and stability across sectors.

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