United Arab Emirates: Dubai Eliminates Residence Visa Stamp Endorsement

Effective immediately, foreign nationals obtaining a UAE Residence Visa in the Emirate of Dubai will no longer be issued a UAE Residence Visa stamp endorsed in their passport. Instead, foreign nationals will be issued an Emirates Identity Card, which will serve as their residency document. This change aligns the Emirate of Dubai’s process with the rest of the Emirates, which discontinued the endorsement process in April. Foreign nationals must hold an original Emirates Identity Card as proof of their residency status upon re-entry to the United Arab Emirates after international travel. It is expected that the electronic version of the residence permit will not be sufficient to enter or depart the United Arab Emirates.