UAE Launches Five-Year Multi-Entry Tourist Visa to Boost Tourism and Business

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has introduced a five-year multiple-entry tourist visa to facilitate seamless travel for visitors. This visa allows individuals to enter and exit the UAE multiple times without requiring a local sponsor, underscoring the nation’s commitment to enhancing its status as a global hub for tourism and business.

Key Features of the Five-Year Multiple-Entry Tourist Visa

• Duration of Stay: Holders can stay in the UAE for up to 90 days per visit, with an option to extend for another 90 days. The total stay must not exceed 180 days in a year.
• Eligibility: Open to all nationalities, subject to specific financial and health requirements.
• Application Requirements:
  • A passport valid for at least six months.
  • Recent passport-sized photograph with a white background.
  • Proof of health insurance valid in the UAE.
  • A six-month bank statement showing a minimum balance of $4,000 or its equivalent.
  • A round-trip ticket or proof of onward travel.
• Application Channels: Applications can be submitted through the General Directorate of Residency and Foreign Affairs (GDRFA) website, the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs, and Port Security (ICP) portal, or the GDRFA-Dubai Smart Application.

Will Nigerians  Be Excluded from Obtaining the Multi-Entry Five-Year Dubai Amid Visa?

While the UAE’s new visa policy is poised to attract a global audience, Nigerians may excluded from accessing the five-year multiple-entry tourist visa. This exclusion stems from visa restrictions introduced in 2022, which saw the UAE halt visa issuance to citizens of Nigeria and 19 other African countries.

These restrictions followed reports of escalating immigration violations and public disturbances linked to certain foreign nationals, prompting the UAE to tighten its travel policies. The complete restriction on Nigerians obtaining Dubai visas was lifted in 2024 November and was replaced with very strict visa requirements. Nigerians who wish to stay in Dubai for more than one week must provide evidence that they have kept $10,000 in their bank account for at least six months.

Dubai, once a favoured destination for Nigerians, has become increasingly inaccessible who are now spending holidays in African destinations like Kenya and Morocco.