United Arab Emirates: Special Entry Permit Required for Blue Zone Participants at the COP28 Global Summit

The United Arab Emirates launched a special entry permit, called the COP28 UAE Visa, which is required for all registered blue zone participants, regardless of nationality, who are entering the United Arab Emirates to attend the upcoming United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) in Dubai. COP28 runs from November 30, 2023 to December 12, 2023. The single-entry visa can be used to enter the United Arab Emirates until December 12, 2023 and is valid for 30 days from the date of entry. In order to obtain the visa, individuals must complete the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC) registration process, after which they will receive a confirmation email that contains a link to apply for the COP28 UAE visa online. The visa can take up to 72 hours to be processed from the date of submission. COP28 participants who need to leave and re-enter the United Arab Emirates can follow this same process to apply for a new COP28 UAE visa (and can use the same UNFCC registration number). Only UNFCC-registered blue zone participants (party delegations, heads of state, admitted observers – which includes representatives from non-government and inter-governmental organizations – and the accredited press) can apply for this visa; green zone participants (all non-blue zone participants) are not eligible and must apply for a pre-arranged visit visa or, if applicable based on nationality, obtain a visa-on-arrival. Nomadic (who can be contacted via [email protected]) can assist in obtaining visit visas for green zone participants.