Dubai Plans New Tourist Visa Service and Exclusive Club for Repeat Visitors

Dubai plans to make travel easier for international visitors through two new initiatives. The plans include a new tourist visa service on the Visit Dubai website and an exclusive membership club for returning visitors.

Dubai Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum announced both initiatives on 1 November 2026. The government plans to launch them during November.

Together, these initiatives aim to improve travel services and encourage more tourists to visit Dubai again.

Tourists can apply for visas through Visit Dubai

Under the new plan, tourists will be able to apply for single-entry and multiple-entry visas through the Visit Dubai website.

The website already helps visitors explore hotels, attractions, events and travel experiences. Now, it will also offer a tourist visa application service.

As a result, travellers will have another official online channel to start their visa applications.

However, the General Directorate of Identity and Foreigners Affairs – Dubai (GDRFA Dubai) will continue to review applications and issue visas.

Officials have not yet shared all the details about the service. They also plan to add more visa options in the future.

Dubai introduces an exclusive club for repeat visitors

Dubai has also announced a new programme called Dubai Access Club.

The club will offer membership to selected visitors through an invitation-only system. Members will receive access to special experiences, services and other benefits.

The programme aims to build stronger relationships with people who visit Dubai regularly.

In addition, the club hopes to encourage members to recommend Dubai to friends, family and business contacts.

However, officials have not yet announced the full membership rules or the list of benefits.

Dubai describes the programme as the world’s first city-led, invitation-only tourism membership initiative.

One digital platform for more travel services

Both initiatives form part of Dubai’s Shared Digital Channels Initiative.

The programme aims to bring more government services together on digital platforms. This will help people access different services without visiting several websites.

For example, the Visit Dubai platform already provides travel information. It will now add visa applications alongside services such as hotel searches, event information and itinerary planning.

GDRFA Dubai, the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism, and Digital Dubai worked together on these plans.

Tourism remains important to Dubai’s economy

Tourism plays a major role in Dubai’s economy. The emirate continues to invest in hotels, attractions, events and travel services to attract international visitors.

Meanwhile, Dubai also wants to encourage tourists to return more often.

The new visa service could make the application process easier. Similarly, the Dubai Access Club could give regular visitors more reasons to return.

Both initiatives also support the Dubai Economic Agenda, known as D33. The agenda aims to make Dubai one of the world’s leading destinations for business and leisure.

What travellers need to know

Dubai plans to introduce both initiatives during November 2026.

Once the visa service launches, travellers will be able to apply for single-entry and multiple-entry tourist visas through Visit Dubai. However, GDRFA Dubai will remain responsible for visa decisions.

The Dubai Access Club will operate through invitations. Officials have yet to share its full membership rules and benefits.

Therefore, visitors should wait for the official launch announcement before relying on the new services.

These plans show how Dubai wants to improve its tourism services through digital platforms and exclusive visitor programmes. The success of both initiatives will depend on how easily tourists can use them and the benefits they receive.