Prospective visitors to the United Arab Emirates, no matter their nationalities, will soon be able to obtain a five-year, multi-entry tourist visa. This new visa will replace the current system, which provided 30-day or 90-day visas that were either single or multi-entry.

The new visa system was announced on Twitter by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, vice president and prime minister of the UAE and ruler of Dubai.

This new five-year, multi-entry visa is expected to launch within the next four months, with the aim of turning the UAE into a major tourist destination.

The new policy comes as Expo 2020 in Dubai this October is expected to attract a massive influx of visitors. The event, billed as “The World’s Greatest Show,” is an event where representatives from 190 countries gather to show off innovations in sustainability and mobility. Other openings, like the Museum of the Future and the Ain Dubai observation wheel (the world’s largest), are also expected to attract large numbers of tourists in 2020.

There has been no official announcement on exactly how much the visa will cost, but early reports suggest it will be affordable, at around $180.

More like this
Trip Planning What you can and can’t wear in the Arab world as travelers