Whether you are a UAE resident with a visa renewal date coming up, or travelling to the UAE for work, business, or leisure, you can easily verify the visa status online.
There are several visas in the Emirates that allow foreigners to visit, work and live in the country. Short-term visas are available for visitors, which range from one month to six, depending on the reason for the trip.
Work visas paid for by employers usually expire in two years, while self-sponsored remote work visas must be renewed annually. Validity for the special green, blue and golden visas range from five to 10 years and these are self-sponsored.
Existing residence visas or entry permits
For visas or entry permits issued in Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah or Fujairah, you can check the status on the website of the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP).
The 'Public Services' dashboard has an option on the top right marked 'File Validity'. Click on that if you already have a visa or entry permit.
On the page, select the option 'Passport' to enter your passport number and expiry date in the appropriate fields. Here you can also select the kind of visa you have, using either the option 'Residency' or the 'Visa' option for non-residents or visitors.
If you have a Dubai-issued residence visa, the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs – Dubai (GDRFA) – has a page dedicated to checking visa status. The homepage of the website has an option titled 'Visa Status' which will lead you to the tracking service. You need to have the UAE visa file number, first name and date of birth.
The file number is available on the visa sticker on residents’ passports. You can also download or print a digital version of this document to obtain the file number if your passport does not have the sticker.
Checking application status
The above steps only apply to people who already have a visa or entry permit. If your application is still pending, you can check that using the reference details of the application.
The same rules apply in terms of where the visa application was filed – ICP for applications in Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah or Fujairah, and GDRFA for Dubai visa applications.
On ICP, select 'Application Tracking' on the 'Public Services' dashboard where you can use the email address used for the application and the request number. For Dubai visas, the same status-tracking service can be used and you need the application reference, transaction number and payment date.
If your visa request has gone through a service provider or a prospective employer, you can check the status if you have these details.
Are there fines for overstaying?
The UAE has standardised fines for those with expired tourist and residency visas.
Fines of Dh50 are levied for each a day a person overstays on their visa.
“The new system unified the amount of overstay fines to Dh50 [$13] per day for any type of visa violator,” said an ICP representative.
You can contact the respective authorities using their customer service numbers. ICP has a toll-free line at 600 522222. You can contact GDRFA Dubai through its customer service number 800 5111 or head to the nearest Amer centre.
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
Ireland v Denmark: The last two years
Denmark 1-1 Ireland
7/06/19, Euro 2020 qualifier
Denmark 0-0 Ireland
19/11/2018, Nations League
Ireland 0-0 Denmark
13/10/2018, Nations League
Ireland 1 Denmark 5
14/11/2017, World Cup qualifier
Denmark 0-0 Ireland
11/11/2017, World Cup qualifier
Women’s T20 World Cup Asia Qualifier
ICC Academy, November 22-28
UAE fixtures
Nov 22, v Malaysia
Nov 23, v Hong Kong
Nov 25, v Bhutan
Nov 26, v Kuwait
Nov 28, v Nepal
ICC T20I rankings
14. Nepal
17. UAE
25. Hong Kong
34. Kuwait
35. Malaysia
44. Bhutan
UAE squad
Chaya Mughal (captain), Natasha Cherriath, Samaira Dharnidharka, Kavisha Egodage, Mahika Gaur, Priyanjali Jain, Suraksha Kotte, Vaishnave Mahesh, Judit Peter, Esha Rohit, Theertha Satish, Chamani Seneviratne, Khushi Sharma, Subha Venkataraman
Some of Darwish's last words
"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008
His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.
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Starring: Lamar Faden, Khairiah Nathmy, Nawaf Al-Dhufairy
Director: Shahad Ameen
Rating: 3/5
Globalization and its Discontents Revisited
Joseph E. Stiglitz
W. W. Norton & Company
