The United Arab Emirates has expanded its visa on arrival programme to include six new nationalities. From 25 June 2026, citizens of Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines, Kenya and South Africa can enter the UAE without applying for a visa in advance, as long as they meet one important condition explained below.

This update was announced jointly by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security, known as the ICP. It is a genuine, official change, not a rumour, and it is already in effect at the time of writing.

If you are a travel agent, a visa consultant, or simply planning a trip to Dubai or Abu Dhabi, here is everything you need to know in plain language.

What Exactly Changed

Before this update, ordinary passport holders from Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines, Kenya and South Africa needed to apply for a UAE visa in advance through an embassy or an approved travel agent. That process usually meant paperwork, waiting time, and planning your trip days or weeks ahead.

Now, citizens of these six countries can receive a visa stamped directly at the airport or land border, the same way visa on arrival already works for many other nationalities. This is a genuine simplification, not just a minor adjustment.

Who Actually Qualifies: The One Condition That Matters

This is the part many travellers miss, so read it carefully. Being a citizen of one of these six countries is not enough on its own. According to the ICP, you must also hold a valid residence permit, visa, or similar document issued by one of nine approved countries at the time you travel.

The nine approved countries whose residence permits qualify you are:

So, for example, a Kenyan citizen who holds a valid US Green Card, or a Filipino citizen who holds a valid UK residency permit, would qualify. A Kenyan or Filipino citizen with no residency status in any of these nine places would still need to apply for a UAE visa the usual way, in advance.

This benefit also extends to accompanying family members who are travelling with the eligible passport holder, as long as they meet the same conditions.

How Long Can You Stay

Travellers who qualify can choose between two stay options at the point of entry.

Anyone who stays beyond their permitted period faces an overstay fine of AED 50 per day. These figures are accurate as of the June 2026 announcement, but fees and rules can be revised, so always confirm the current amount with the ICP or an authorised visa service before travelling.

Why the UAE Made This Change

According to the ICP's official statement, this update is part of a broader effort to make the UAE's entry system more flexible and to strengthen ties with partner countries across Asia and Africa. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs described it as a step that supports tourism, business travel, and closer economic and cultural relationships with these six nations.

In simple terms, the UAE wants to make it easier for genuine travellers from fast growing economies to visit Dubai and Abu Dhabi, while still keeping a clear eligibility filter in place through the residence permit requirement.

Does This Affect Indian Passport Holders

This is a common question, so it is worth clearing up directly. This particular update does not add India to the list, because India already has its own separate visa on arrival facility that has existed for some time. Indian passport holders who hold a valid visa or residency from the United States, United Kingdom, or an EU country can already use a conditional visa on arrival, and that facility continues to operate as before.

In short, if you are an Indian traveller, this specific announcement does not change your existing eligibility, but it is useful to understand for clients or family members who hold passports from the six newly added countries.

Checklist Before You Travel

If you are advising a client, or planning your own trip, confirm these points before booking flights.

1. Confirm your nationality is one of the six eligible countries, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines, Kenya, or South Africa
2. Check that your residence permit, visa, or Green Card from one of the nine approved countries is valid and will not expire during your trip
3. Decide whether the 14 day option or the 60 day option suits your travel plan, since the 60 day version cannot be extended
4. Carry both your passport and your qualifying residence document at the airport, since both will be checked at immigration
5. Keep a note of your entry date so you do not accidentally overstay and face the daily fine
6. Double check current fees and conditions on official UAE government channels before you fly, since visa rules can be updated

What This Means for Travel Agents and Visa Consultants

For travel professionals, updates like this are not just trivia, they directly affect how you advise clients. A traveller from Kenya or the Philippines who previously needed weeks of lead time to arrange a UAE visa may now be able to book a trip on short notice, provided they meet the residence permit condition. This is exactly the kind of nuance that separates a well trained visa consultant from someone simply repeating headlines.

Understanding conditional eligibility rules, not just headline announcements, is a core part of what we teach at World Visa Academy. Rules like this one look simple on the surface but carry conditions that can easily trip up travellers and agents who do not read the fine print.

What Happens Next

Since this change is still fairly new, it is worth watching for two things in the coming months. First, whether the UAE extends similar visa on arrival access to more nationalities beyond these six. Second, whether the fee structure or stay limits are adjusted as the new system is tested with real travel volumes. As always with immigration policy, the safest approach is to verify current rules directly with the ICP or the UAE's official visa channels before finalising any travel plans.