Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, has unveiled two initiatives aimed at making travel to the emirate easier and encouraging visitors to return. The first, called Dubai Access Club, is an invitation-only membership programme for repeat visitors, offering exclusive benefits and experiences designed to make coming back to the city more rewarding.

The second initiative introduces an online visa application service through the official Visit Dubai website, set to launch in November 2026. Under the new system, tourists will be able to apply directly for single-entry and multiple-entry visas through the platform, while the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) Dubai will continue to assess and issue the visas. Officials said additional visa categories will be added to the service over time.

The announcement was made alongside Helal Saeed Almarri, director general of Dubai's Department of Economy and Tourism; Lieutenant General Mohammed Ahmed Al Marri, director general of GDRFA Dubai; and Hamad Obaid Al Mansoori, director general of Digital Dubai. Both initiatives fall under the Shared Digital Channels Initiative, approved in February 2025, which seeks to integrate seven government and private-sector platforms using AI-driven personalisation.

Officials said the new services support Dubai's D33 economic agenda, which aims to position the emirate among the world's top three cities for tourism, business and quality of life. By combining a simpler visa process with an exclusive loyalty-style programme, Dubai is seeking to strengthen its appeal to returning visitors and streamline their experience from the moment they decide to travel.