By Sohaib Shams
Dubai has unveiled two new digital initiatives aimed at simplifying visa applications and rewarding repeat visitors as the emirate seeks to revive tourism amid regional tensions.
Visa applications via Visit Dubai website
Tourists can now apply for single-entry and multiple-entry visas directly through the Visit Dubai website, the city's official tourism portal. The General Directorate of Identity and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) retains responsibility for assessing and issuing visas, while the new platform integrates visa services with experience bookings under a Shared Digital Channels Initiative.
Invitation-only membership club for repeat visitors
An exclusive membership programme, the Dubai Access Club, will launch in November offering repeat visitors tailored experiences, services and benefits. The government said the club aims to make returning to Dubai "easier and more rewarding."
Officials highlight digital integration and economic goals
Lieutenant General Mohammed Ahmed Al Marri, director general of GDRFA Dubai, said the move simplifies procedures and improves access to government services while maintaining security standards. Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum stated the initiatives support Dubai's ambition to rank among the world's top three tourism destinations under the Dubai Economic Agenda D33.
Previous incentive programme for residents
In July, the Department of Economy and Tourism introduced the "Dubai Invite" programme, offering UAE residents rewards worth up to AED 3,000 (£610) for bringing friends and family to the emirate. The scheme ran from 20 July to 31 October following a dip in tourism linked to concerns over potential conflict between Iran and the United States.
