UAE Launches Multiple-Entry Permits for Cruise Passengers and Crew: A New Era of Travel Convenience

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has launched a groundbreaking multiple-entry visa specifically for cruise ship passengers and crew, marking a significant development in the maritime travel sector. This initiative, introduced by the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP), aims to simplify shore leave and transit procedures for those traveling by cruise.

Under the new regulations, foreign travelers arriving on cruise ships can obtain a temporary multiple-entry visa. To qualify, they must submit their travel itinerary in advance and have a licensed tourism or shipping entity act as a guarantor. This change is expected to enhance the efficiency of vessel turnarounds and ease the logistics of crew changes, particularly benefiting those on short contracts.

Most winter cruise ships operating in the Persian Gulf are based in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, collectively serving approximately one million passengers each season. This visa reform is designed to minimize bureaucratic hurdles for crew members and streamline the entry process during port rotations.

Major General Suhail Saeed Al Khaili, the Director General of ICP, highlighted that this initiative aligns with the UAE’s broader goals of economic diversification and enhancing global mobility, positioning the country as a strong competitor to well-established cruise destinations in the Mediterranean and Caribbean.

In addition to the new cruise-specific visa, the ICP has introduced three additional categories of visit visas targeting sectors such as artificial intelligence, entertainment, and events, further expanding the UAE’s visa framework. This comprehensive approach aims to solidify the UAE’s reputation as a major maritime hub in the Gulf, facilitating deeper integration into global cruise itineraries.

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