Dubai, UAE – Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, has unveiled two initiatives to make visiting the emirate easier: online tourist visa applications through Visit Dubai and the Dubai Access Club, described as the world’s first city-led tourism membership programme.
Tourist visas on Visit Dubai
- From November 2026, travellers can apply for single-entry and multiple-entry tourist visas on the official Visit Dubai website.
- More visa categories are planned.
- GDRFA Dubai will continue to assess applications and issue visas.
Visit Dubai already lets visitors book attractions, events and experiences, so adding visas brings trip planning onto a single platform.
What is the Dubai Access Club?
The Dubai Access Club is an invitation-only membership for repeat visitors, offering exclusive benefits and experiences designed to make returning to Dubai simpler. Pricing, tiers and the sign-up process have not yet been announced.
Why it matters
Both initiatives support the Dubai Economic Agenda D33 goal of ranking Dubai among the world’s top three cities for business and leisure. Helal Saeed Almarri, Director General of Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism, said the measures aim to remove barriers and encourage visitors to come back, while GDRFA Dubai said the visa service simplifies procedures without compromising security. Digital Dubai said the integration is part of its push for connected government services.
Source: Gulf News.
