GDRFA Dubai permits crossed a major milestone in the first half of 2026, with more than 7 million entry permits and residency permits processed across Dubai’s immigration services.
The figures point to a busy travel, residency and employment market. They also show how much Dubai now depends on fast digital government services for residents, visitors, employers and families.
The Key Numbers
During the first six months of 2026, GDRFA Dubai issued 1,051,978 new residence permits and renewed 910,552 residence permits. It also issued 5,078,078 entry permits.
Together, those numbers put the total above 7 million permit actions across entry and residency services. The authority also recorded full digital transformation and a full service completion rate for the period.
How Fast Are Services Being Completed?
The average processing time was listed at no more than four minutes. Customer happiness reached 95 percent, which is a strong signal for a service area that affects everyday life for many Dubai residents.
Fast processing matters because immigration services are not abstract. They affect job moves, family visits, event travel, business hiring, student plans and long-term settlement decisions.
Tourist And Visit Visa Activity
The update also highlighted continued activity around visit and tourist visas. Dubai continued to offer the five-year multiple-entry tourist visa, a useful option for frequent visitors and families who travel in and out of the UAE often.
GDRFA Dubai also issued 29,456 visas for visiting relatives or friends. These visas offer stay options of 30, 60 or 90 days, with single or multiple entries and extensions available up to a maximum of 120 days.
Entry Visas For Specific Resident Categories
The authority issued 73,551 entry visas for nationals of certain countries who live outside their home countries. These visas offer 14-day stays that can be extended for a similar period, or 60-day stays through digital procedures.
For travellers, that flexibility can reduce friction. For Dubai, it supports a fast-moving visitor economy where people arrive for family, business, leisure, events and short-term plans.
Events Visa And Golden Residency
The Events Visa continues to support people travelling to the UAE for conferences, exhibitions, activities and major events. It offers 30-day or 60-day stays, with single or multiple entries and extension options up to 120 days.
Golden Residency services also remain part of the wider system. The programme targets categories including investors, artistic and sports talents, scientists, specialists, outstanding students, entrepreneurs and humanitarian pioneers.
Work Bundles And Domestic Worker Services
Service bundles are another important part of the update. The Work Bundle recorded 521,216 transactions, while the Work Bundle for Domestic Workers recorded 11,323 transactions.
These bundles combine related steps into one customer journey. That can include employment contracts, health insurance, work permits, cancellations, visa issuance, status adjustment, medical fitness checks, residence permit issuance and Emirates ID issuance.
Dubai Bliss readers tracking resident updates can browse our UAE Pulse coverage. For official immigration services and applications, use the GDRFA Dubai website.
Why This Matters For Dubai Residents
Dubai’s population and visitor economy move quickly. A visa or residency delay can affect a job start date, a school process, a family visit or an event trip.
The H1 2026 numbers show the scale of demand. They also show why digital service journeys are now central to Dubai’s government experience, not a side feature.
For residents, the practical takeaway is to use official channels, check current requirements and avoid waiting until the last possible day for renewals or status changes. Fast systems still work best when documents are ready and applications are submitted correctly.
For employers and families, bundled services can reduce confusion. When several government steps sit inside one journey, it becomes easier to understand what has been completed and what still needs action.
FAQs
How many GDRFA Dubai permits were processed in H1 2026?
More than 7 million entry and residency permit actions were processed in the first half of 2026, including new residence permits, renewals and entry permits.
How many entry permits were issued?
GDRFA Dubai issued 5,078,078 entry permits during the first half of 2026.
What was the average processing time?
The average processing time was listed at no more than four minutes, alongside full digital transformation and a full service completion rate.
What is the Work Bundle?
The Work Bundle combines several employment and residency-related government services into one customer journey, including work permit, visa, medical fitness and Emirates ID steps.