What are the six biggest UAE visa rule changes introduced in 2026?

The UAE has introduced several important visa updates in 2026, making travel and residency more accessible while tightening certain health-related entry rules. Key changes include the expansion of the visa-on-arrival programme to eligible nationals of six additional countries, Dubai's new 48-hour tourist visa processing, revised two-year property residency visa rules that remove the previous Dh750,000 minimum property value requirement for sole owners, a 30-day grace period until July 9 for eligible visitors affected by earlier flight disruptions to regularise their visa status, plans to introduce a smart medical visa that integrates healthcare and immigration services for medical tourists, and the temporary suspension of new visas for nationals of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda and South Sudan as a precaution against Ebola. Which of these visa changes do you think will have the biggest impact on travellers, residents, or property investors in the UAE?