UAE introduces AI specialists visa, income rules for family sponsorship

The United Arab Emirates has unveiled a new visa category for artificial intelligence specialists as part of a wide-ranging overhaul of its entry and residency rules.

The AI specialists visa, issued for single or multiple entries, will be tied to sponsorship from a host or technology company, according to Emirati daily The National.

It comes as the UAE positions itself as a regional hub for emerging technologies and digital innovation.

Visit visas for friends and relatives will now depend on the sponsor’s monthly income. To sponsor a first-degree relative, residents must earn at least 4,000 dirhams ($1,090), rising to 8,000 dirhams for second- or third-degree relatives. Sponsoring a friend requires a minimum income of 15,000 dirhams ($4,085).

Other newly introduced categories include an entertainment visa for leisure visitors, an event visa for those attending conferences, festivals or exhibitions, and a maritime tourism visa for cruise ship passengers and yacht tourists on approved itineraries, the UAE government announced on X.

The government also expanded protections for women.

Widows and divorced women can now apply for residency permits without a sponsor, provided they do so within six months of the husband’s death or divorce.

Officials also introduced a one-year humanitarian residence permit for people from war-torn or disaster-hit countries, which does not require a sponsor but will be canceled if the holder leaves the UAE.

Other measures include a business exploration visa requiring proof of solvency or professional practice abroad, and new visa options for foreign lorry drivers sponsored by licensed transport companies.

Officials say the reforms are intended to strengthen the UAE’s appeal as a global destination for talent, investment, and tourism, while expanding social protections for residents.