• UAE’s ICP introduces new income requirements for visit visa sponsors, with thresholds depending on degree of relationship to visitor.
• First-degree relatives require sponsors earning AED 4,000, while second- and third-degree relatives and friends require AED 15,000 minimum income.
• UAE launches four new visa categories targeting AI specialists, entertainment professionals, event participants, and maritime tourism travelers with defined durations.

Visit Visa

UAE’s Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs, and Port Security (ICP) introduced new conditions and income requirements for several existing visa categories, including entry visas for visiting friends and relatives.

These regulations indicate that foreign residents in the UAE seeking to sponsor relatives or friends need to meet monthly income thresholds. The amount depends on their relationship with the visitor.

According to the authority, if the visitor is a first-degree relative, such as a parent, spouse, or child, the sponsor’s monthly income must be at least AED 4,000. 

For second degree, siblings, grandparents and grandchildren and third degree, uncle, aunt, and cousins, the sponsor’s income must be at least AED 15,000. ​​

Meanwhile, for non relatives such as friends, the sponsor’s minimum income requirement increases to AED 15,000.

These new income requirements are part of a wider set of changes introduced by the ICP. These changes aim to enhance transparency, support economic diversification, and attract talented individuals to the UAE.

Visa Reforms

This comes after the UAE has announced a new wave of visa reforms. With this, it aims to attract skilled talent, boost tourism, and expand humanitarian access.

The ICP launched four new categories:

• Artificial intelligence specialists
• Entertainment sector visitors
• Event participants
• Maritime tourism travelers, including cruise ship and leisure boat passengers

Each visa comes with defined durations and conditions, plus clear extension rules. Meanwhile, the AI specialist visa aims to foster the UAE goal to become a global tech hub.