H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, has announced two new initiatives to strengthen the competitiveness of Dubai’s tourism sector.
Both will be implemented in November 2026.
The first is Dubai Access Club, billed as the world’s first city-led, invitation-only tourism membership programme. Designed for repeat visitors, it will offer invited members exclusive experiences, services and benefits, with the aim of making returning to Dubai easier and more rewarding.
The second lets visitors apply for tourist visas through Visit Dubai, the city’s official tourism website. Single-entry and multiple-entry visas will be available at launch, with more categories planned. The General Directorate of Identity and Foreigners Affairs – Dubai (GDRFA Dubai) will continue to assess applications and issue visas, and further service details will be announced in due course.
The measures were developed by GDRFA Dubai, the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) and Digital Dubai under the Shared Digital Channels Initiative. Approved by Sheikh Hamdan in February 2025, the initiative brings public and private sector services together across seven unified platforms. Visitors will be able to discover attractions, book tickets, plan itineraries and handle visa applications in one place.
Sheikh Hamdan said tourism is a key pillar of Dubai’s economy and that the initiatives support the Dubai Economic Agenda, D33, which aims to place Dubai among the world’s top three destinations for business and leisure.
Helal Saeed Almarri, Director-General of DET, said the initiatives are about removing barriers and giving people more reasons to return. Lieutenant General Mohammed Ahmed Al Marri, Director-General of GDRFA Dubai, said the visa step moves services into a single digital journey while maintaining high standards of security and efficiency. Hamad Obaid Al Mansoori, Director-General of Digital Dubai, said data and AI will be used to make services more personalised and proactive.
News Source: Emirates News Agency
