Dubai launches the Dubai Access Club, with a five-year multiple-entry tourist visa for invited repeat visitors

On 1 November 2026 His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the UAE and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, announced two initiatives to strengthen Dubai's tourism sector: the Dubai Access Club and tourist visa applications through Visit Dubai, the city's official tourism website. On 5 November 2026 the General Directorate of Identity and Foreigners Affairs in Dubai (GDRFA Dubai) and the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) published the details of the Dubai Access Club.

The initiatives form part of the Dubai Economic Agenda D33 and support the aim of placing Dubai among the world's top three destinations for business and leisure.

The key facts

• What it is: described by Dubai Media Office as the world's first city-led, invitation-only tourism membership programme of its kind, designed for repeat visitors and frequent travellers.
• Membership: a five-year membership, available by invitation only through partner nominations.
• Visa: members receive a five-year multiple-entry tourist visa. Membership is activated once the visa application is approved and the specified eligibility criteria are met.
• How invitations are issued: through selected loyalty programmes and multinational companies linked to the launch partners, Emirates, Accor and Visa. More partners are expected to join.
• For companies: participating multinational companies can make it easier for eligible employees to return to Dubai for meetings and corporate events.
• Benefits: GDRFA Dubai's ALSAADA Tourist Card and a Majid Al Futtaim gift card, with further partner offers to be announced, including hotel room upgrades, lounge access and advance booking windows for events.
• Visit Dubai visas: visitors can apply for single-entry and multiple-entry tourist visas through Visit Dubai. GDRFA Dubai continues to assess applications and issue visas, and more visa categories are planned.

Why it matters for international clients

Many founders, investors and families from Europe, North America, Australia, Russia and the CIS visit Dubai several times before deciding to set up a company, buy property or relocate. A five-year multiple-entry visa makes those exploratory trips, board meetings and property viewings simpler to plan. For international groups, the corporate element of the programme can make it easier for senior staff to travel regularly to a UAE regional office or to visit clients and investors in the city.

The Dubai Access Club is a tourist programme. It does not give the right to live or work in the UAE, so anyone planning to move or to run a business locally will still need a residence visa.

What to do

• If you receive an invitation through one of the partner programmes or your employer, review the eligibility criteria and complete the visa application before activating membership.
• If you are moving from regular visits to living in the UAE, compare residence options, including the Golden Visa, and use our moving to Dubai checklist.
• If you plan to establish a business, decide early between a free zone and a mainland licence. Our guide free zone or mainland and our company setup service explain the options.
• Check your tax position in your current country before you relocate through our country guides.

Sources

• Dubai Media Office: Dubai unveils details of 'Dubai Access Club' (5 November 2026)
• Dubai Media Office: Hamdan bin Mohammed announces new initiatives to further enhance the competitiveness of Dubai's tourism sector (1 November 2026)
• Gulf Today: Dubai unveils details of 'Dubai Access Club' (5 November 2026)

This page gives general information as at the date shown and is not advice for your specific situation. Rules in other countries are summarised for orientation; your home-country position should be confirmed before you act.