Visa Services

The UAE keeps refining the way people live, work, and build businesses in the country. Every few months, we see updates to visa categories, residency rules, and Emiratization requirements. UAE isn’t just tweaking regulations for the sake of it. The wider strategy is clear: attract the right talent, support national priorities, strengthen economic growth, and maintain a business-friendly environment while ensuring proper structure.

Gulf Central works closely with entrepreneurs, SMEs, and established companies, navigating these changes every day. This article breaks down the latest updates in plain language and explains what they mean for organisations operating in the UAE.

All details below are based on the latest official updates from the UAE authorities.

New Visit Visa Categories: More Tailored Routes Into the UAE

The Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs, and Port Security (ICP) recently introduced four new visit visa categories. Instead of relying on generic visitor visas, the UAE is now differentiating visitors by purpose, skill, and contribution.

According to the updates, the new visas include:

1. Specialist Visa for AI and Advanced Technology Talent

This one targets experts, researchers, and specialists working in artificial intelligence and advanced tech fields. It’s part of the UAE’s long-term ambition to dominate high-innovation sectors and attract the world’s best minds.

For companies, this means shorter lead times for bringing in consultants or specialists for high-impact projects. Instead of forcing them through broader visa categories, the process is now more aligned with their skill set.

2. Entertainment Visa

This covers performers, musicians, artists, production teams, and cultural event participants. The UAE’s entertainment and creative sectors continue to grow fast, and the visa structure now reflects that momentum.

If your business is involved in media, events, or live performances, this category helps reduce ambiguity and ensures compliance from the moment you plan an event.

3. Event Visa

This visa is for conference speakers, attendees, exhibitors, and organizers. With Dubai and Abu Dhabi hosting major global events year-round, this category supports smooth entry for participants.

This simplifies the process for businesses participating in trade fairs, exhibitions, and large-scale gatherings.

4. Cruise and Yacht Tourism Visa

A response to the UAE’s growing cruise tourism sector, this visa allows multiple entries for passengers arriving via cruise ships or private marine vessels.

The UAE wants to position itself as a regional maritime tourism hub, and this category supports that goal.

Updates to Residency Permits and Sponsorship Rules

Alongside the new visa categories, several updates were made to residency processes. These may affect both employees and family-sponsored residents.

The documented changes include:

1. One-Year Humanitarian Residence Permit

This permit can be renewed annually and is available to nationals of countries affected by war or natural disasters.

For employers, this is important because employees falling under humanitarian circumstances now have a clearer pathway to maintaining lawful residency.

2. Easier Renewal for Widows and Divorcees

Widows and divorcees of UAE residents will benefit from simplified renewal rules. Instead of going through complex case-by-case procedures, they now have a smoother and more predictable pathway.

Businesses employing individuals in these circumstances should note that documentation requirements are lighter and processing times may shorten.

3. Revised Salary Thresholds for Family Sponsorship

The latest rules require:

• a minimum salary of AED 4,000
  or
• AED 3,000 with employer-provided accommodation

These thresholds apply whether the sponsor is male or female, which continues the UAE’s shift toward more inclusive residency policies.

For HR teams, this update means you should review employment packages when advising new hires who wish to bring their families.

A Single Digital System for Domestic Worker Visas

The UAE launched a unified platform called Work in UAE, designed to centralise processes for domestic worker visas. This isn’t just a new website. It consolidates Emirates ID registration, medical testing, applications, renewals, cancellations, and payments in one place.

The goal is straightforward:

• less back-and-forth with different offices
• fewer paper submissions
• cleaner compliance with domestic worker regulations

Household sponsors and employers now need to use this platform as the standard process. For business owners who rely on personal or household staff, this will change the way renewals and new applications are handled going forward.

Golden Visa Expansion: A New Category for Waqf Donors

The UAE continues refining the Golden Visa programme, and the latest addition is a category for Waqf donors. Individuals who contribute to charitable endowment projects or humanitarian initiatives may now be eligible for a 10-year residency.

This matters more than it seems.

The expansion opens long-term residency to philanthropists and impact-driven individuals, reinforcing the UAE’s brand as a global centre for social contribution and charitable innovation.

Sponsors under this category can bring their families without depending on employment—adding both stability and clarity for high-value contributors.

Emiratization: A Crucial Reminder for 2025

Here’s what employers need to keep front-of-mind. The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratization (MOHRE) has reiterated that companies must meet their Emiratisation targets by 31 December 2025. Penalties begin on 1 January 2026.

The reminder may sound routine, but it signals increased scrutiny, more data verification, and an uncompromising approach to non-compliance.

Who needs to comply?

According to the current rules:

Companies with 50 or more employees

• Must increase Emirati participation in skilled jobs by 2% each year
• Total:
  • 8% by the end of 2025
  • 10% by the end of 2026

Companies with 20–49 employees (in specific high-growth sectors)

• Need to hire at least one Emirati by the end of 2025
• Must retain any Emiratis employed before 1 January 2025

Penalties will apply for any shortfall.

What’s different this time?

MOHRE is tightening monitoring to identify fake or non-genuine Emiratisation practices. This includes checking:

• Job titles
• Job responsibilities
• Compensation
• Nafis platform reports
• Contract authenticity

Any attempt to sidestep the rules, like token hires or misclassified roles, will put companies at risk.

Updated Nafis Award

The latest cycle focuses less on numbers and more on the quality and sustainability of Emirati employment. There’s also a new award category dedicated to education professionals.

This shift signals that Emiratisation isn’t just a quota system. It’s about building meaningful national talent integration.

The Bigger Picture: A More Structured, Transparent System

Across all these updates, one trend stands out. The UAE is building a more standardised, data-driven, transparent system for immigration and workforce compliance.

This creates opportunities:

• Smoother onboarding
• Shorter processing times
• Better digital integration
• More predictable requirements

But it also raises the stakes for record-keeping and accuracy. Sloppy filings, outdated HR processes, or short-term workarounds won’t hold up under government review.

Companies that adapt early will benefit from a future where systems are faster, clearer, and more efficient.

How Gulf Central Helps Your Business Stay Compliant and Ready

Gulf Central supports businesses of all sizes in navigating these ongoing regulatory shifts. We help organisations determine the correct visa categories for employees, short-term specialists, entertainers, event participants, and dependents. The goal is to prevent delays and keep mobility smooth.

Golden Visa Consultation

Our team assists high-impact individuals, investors, and now Waqf donors in preparing and submitting Golden Visa applications under the updated rules.

Emiratisation Planning and Compliance

We review:

• Current workforce ratios
• Skill classifications
• Nafis reporting accuracy
• Recruitment timelines
• Risk areas

Companies that plan early avoid the penalties waiting in 2026.

Ready to Strengthen Your Compliance and Build With Confidence?

If you're growing a company in the UAE, these changes aren’t small administrative tweaks. They affect hiring, retention, budgeting, expansion, and long-term strategy. You don’t need to handle all of this alone.

Gulf Central helps businesses stay compliant, confident, and fully aligned with UAE regulations without slowing down growth.

If you want a clear roadmap for your visa processes, Emiratisation strategy, or Golden Visa applications, reach out to our team today. We’ll walk you through exactly what your business needs to do next and help you implement it with zero stress.

Get in touch with Gulf Central and move forward with clarity, compliance, and momentum.