The UAE’s five-year multiple-entry visa continues to offer travellers the opportunity to visit the country for family, business or personal purposes, with the permit allowing multiple entries over five years.

The visa allows holders to stay in the UAE for 90 days during each entry, with the option to extend the stay for another 90 days in one year. The permit is available to all nationalities.

The visa was initially approved in 2021 by the UAE Cabinet during a meeting chaired by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, as part of efforts to position the country as an ideal destination for work and tourism.

Alongside the multiple-entry permit, the Cabinet also approved a remote work visa that allows employees from around the world to live and work in the UAE for one year.

The Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism recently announced the launch of “A Dubai Invite”, running from July 20 to October 31, 2026. Under the initiative, residents who successfully nominate family members or friends and verify their visit can access rewards including hotel stays, restaurant offers and experiences at city attractions.

Applicants for the five-year multiple-entry visa must meet several requirements before submitting their applications.

The applicant’s passport or travel document must be valid for at least six months and allow entry into the UAE and return to the country where the holder resides or from where the document was issued.

Applicants must also have a travel ticket for onward travel or departure from the UAE, valid health insurance in the country, and documents showing a bank balance of $4,000 or equivalent in other currencies during the six months before submission.

Visa holders cannot remain in the UAE continuously for more than 90 days, although this period may be extended for a similar duration, provided the total stay does not exceed 180 days in a year.

Applicants must provide a coloured passport-size photograph. For children under 18, a family visa application can be submitted.

For certain nationalities, additional identification documents are required, including an Iraqi Population Card, Iranian Censenamah, Pakistani ID card and Afghani ID card.

Applications can be submitted through digital platforms including the ICP and GDRFA websites, as well as customer happiness centres, typing centres and GDRFA centres.

Visa issuance can take up to 48 hours through all available channels.

Through digital channels, applicants must log in to the smart services system using UAE Pass or a username, search for the five-year permit application, complete the required information and pay the service fee.

Applicants applying through customer happiness, GDRFA or typing centres must visit the centre, take an automated turn ticket, submit the application with required documents and pay the service fee.

The application fee varies depending on the platform used.

Through the ICP website, the total fee is Dh3,775, including request fees of Dh100, issue fees of Dh500, security deposits of Dh3,025, e-services fees of Dh28, ICP fees of Dh22 and smart services fees of Dh100.

Through the GDRFA website, the total fee is Dh3,713.5, including an application fee of Dh100, issuance fee of Dh500, guarantee amount of Dh3,000, warranty service fee of Dh21, fee for collection and return of guarantee of Dh20, Knowledge Dirham of Dh10, Innovation Dirham of Dh10 and service fee of Dh52.5.

After the visa is issued, holders must enter the UAE within 60 days from the issuance date.

The visa allows multiple entries as long as the stay does not exceed 90 days within a year. The year is calculated from the date of first entry into the UAE, rather than the calendar year or visa issuance date.

The stay duration can be extended for an equal period, provided the total stay does not exceed 180 days per year. Any unused days from a stay period cannot be carried over into the following year.

The visa becomes invalid, and the applicant will not receive a refund if the holder exceeds the permitted stay duration.

Visa holders or their representatives can request a travel report to check entry and exit records and determine the number of days used.

Applications may be automatically rejected if required information is not completed within 30 days from the return date, or if the application is returned three times due to missing information or incomplete documents.

Applicants are usually provided with the reason for rejection if conditions are not met, although authorities may choose not to disclose the reason in some cases.

In the event of violations, fines are collected at the departure port, and the financial security amount may be forfeited.

The five-year multiple-entry visa also allows refunds in cases of cancellations, expiry or rejection.

If an application is rejected, applicants can receive refunds for issuance fees, health insurance fees and paid financial deposits.

Refunds are processed through the credit card used for payment within 180 days from the main application submission date. If refund conditions are met after that period, refunds may be processed through cheque or bank transfer to banks located within the UAE.

Financial deposits are directly executed if rules related to entry and stay in the UAE are violated.