The UAE is expanding visa-on-arrival access for nationals of Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines, Kenya, and South Africa. According to the snippet, the change takes effect from July 25, 2026, and applies to travelers who also hold qualifying residence permits from eligible third countries.
The new policy offers either 14-day or 60-day visas on arrival. That makes the rule more flexible for short trips and extended visits, especially for travelers who qualify under the residence-permit condition.
This update is part of a broader set of UAE travel and processing changes in the same news cycle. The snippet also mentions smart gates, biometric boarding, and off-site check-in as measures being used to keep queues moving.
The result suggests that the UAE is leaning further into streamlined entry procedures. Rather than adding friction, this particular policy broadens access for specific nationalities while keeping the visa-on-arrival model in place.
What this means for you
If you are a passport holder from one of the listed countries, check whether your residence permit makes you eligible before booking. The snippet is specific about qualifying third-country residence permits, so nationality alone is not enough to assume eligibility.
Travelers who qualify may be able to use a faster arrival process instead of applying in advance. That can help with last-minute travel, but only if the permit and passport combination matches the policy exactly.
The practical step is to verify your documents before departure and not rely on assumptions based on previous UAE entry rules. For eligible travelers, the change could simplify trip planning and shorten the path to entry.