What Happened: The Full Timeline

February 28, 2026 — UAE airspace closes

Iran launched large-scale missile and drone attacks on the UAE and other Gulf states, forcing the UAE to close its airspace. Flight cancellations and suspensions left thousands of tourists, visit visa holders, and residents stranded inside the country, unable to depart before their visas expired.

March 2026 — ICP waives overstay fines

The UAE’s Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) introduced an emergency waiver of overstay fines for all individuals stranded by the disruption. The exemption covered visit and tourist visa holders, exit permit holders, and residents whose UAE residence visas had been cancelled in preparation for departure but who could not leave due to the airspace closure.

June 10, 2026 — Final grace period opens

As regional stability returned and flight operations normalized, the ICP announced a final 30-day grace period running from June 10 to July 9, 2026. This gave affected individuals one last window to either regularize their immigration status inside the UAE or depart the country without facing accumulated overstay fines.

July 9, 2026 — Deadline passes, enforcement resumes

The ICP confirmed the July 9 cutoff with no further extensions. From July 10, standard immigration enforcement resumed across all emirates, including daily overstay fines, inspections, and potential deportation orders for those who remain without valid status.

Who Was Eligible for the Amnesty?

The exemption applied specifically to:

• Visit and tourist visa holders whose visas expired due to flight disruptions from February 28, 2026
• Individuals holding exit permits who were unable to depart
• UAE residents whose residency visas had been cancelled ahead of departure but who could not leave due to the airspace closure
• Travellers covered under the original ICP exemption issued in March 2026

Important scope limit: this was not a general amnesty for all overstayers. The ICP was explicit that the grace period applied only to those already covered under the March 2026 exemption — not to anyone whose overstay was unrelated to the Iran conflict and flight disruptions.

The Deadline Has Passed — What Are Your Options Now?

If you missed the July 9 deadline and are currently in overstay status, you are now accumulating AED 50 per day in fines. Here is what is available to you:

Option 1 — Extend your visa inside the UAE (if eligible)

If your original tourist or visit visa was a standard 14-day, 30-day, or 60-day visa and has not been in overstay for too long, you may still be eligible to apply for a visa extension without leaving the UAE. This is separate from the now-closed amnesty — it is the standard extension route available to any tourist visa holder.

Contact our team on WhatsApp as soon as possible to check your specific eligibility. See our full guide on extending your UAE visa without leaving the country.

Option 2 — Depart the UAE and pay fines on exit

If you cannot regularize your status inside the UAE, the next step is to depart. Accumulated overstay fines (AED 50 per day from the first day after expiry) plus an exit permit fee (approximately AED 250–350) must be settled before or at the airport on departure. Keep in mind that a recorded overstay can affect future UAE visa applications.

Option 3 — Regularize your status through a new visa category

If you have grounds to stay in the UAE legally — a job offer, family sponsorship, or eligibility for another visa category — it may be possible to change your visa status from inside the country without departing first. This requires specific eligibility and documentation. Contact a licensed immigration consultant for guidance on your specific case.

What NOT to do

Do not ignore your current status. Every day of additional overstay adds AED 50 to your fine. Extended or repeated overstays can lead to temporary or permanent entry bans. The longer you wait, the fewer options are available and the higher the cost.

What the Fines Look Like Now

Standard UAE overstay fines resumed from July 10, 2026, with no grace period. Here is what accumulates from the date your visa expired:

An exit permit fee of approximately AED 250–350 is charged separately on departure, in addition to the daily fine total. See our full overstay fine guide for the complete breakdown.

Can You Still Extend Your Visa Without Leaving?

Yes — but this is a separate question from the amnesty. Even after the July 9 amnesty deadline, the standard UAE tourist visa extension process remains available to eligible travelers. Most tourist visas (14-day, 30-day, 60-day) can still be extended for an additional 30 days from inside the UAE without crossing any border, provided your situation qualifies.

This is the single most important thing many travelers don’t know: you do not need to do a border run to fix a nearly-expired or recently-expired visa. If you act quickly and your visa type is eligible, an in-country extension may still be possible.

Message our team on WhatsApp immediately with your visa copy and we’ll confirm whether an extension is still available for your situation.

Full guide: How to extend your UAE visa without leaving the country →

Frequently Asked Questions

Has the UAE visa amnesty for the Iran conflict ended?

Yes. The ICP’s grace period ran from June 10 to July 9, 2026, and the ICP confirmed no extensions beyond that date. Standard enforcement resumed from July 10, 2026.

Who was eligible for the amnesty?

Visit and tourist visa holders, exit permit holders, and residents whose visas expired or were cancelled because of flight disruptions caused by the Iran conflict beginning February 28, 2026. It was not a general amnesty for all overstayers.

I missed the July 9 deadline — what do I do now?

Contact a licensed visa assistance platform as soon as possible. Depending on your situation, you may be eligible for a standard visa extension from inside the UAE, or you may need to depart and settle outstanding fines on exit. Every additional day of overstay adds AED 50 to your fine.

Can I still extend my tourist visa without leaving the UAE?

Yes — the standard tourist visa extension process (separate from the now-closed amnesty) is still available to eligible visa holders. Most 14-day, 30-day, and 60-day tourist visas can be extended for an additional 30 days from inside the UAE. Contact us on WhatsApp to check your specific eligibility.

Will I be banned from re-entering the UAE if I overstayed?

Significant or repeated overstays can result in a temporary or permanent entry ban. Settling your fines and resolving your status correctly before departing reduces the risk of a ban. If you were covered by the March 2026 exemption and departed within the July 9 window, your overstay record was cleared under the amnesty terms.

Is there another UAE amnesty planned for 2026?

No further amnesty has been announced by the ICP as of July 11, 2026. The July 9 deadline was described by the ICP as the final window with no further extensions. For the most current information, check the official ICP portal at icp.gov.ae.

Is DubaiVisa.com licensed to help resolve overstay situations?

Yes. DubaiVisa.com operates under DTCM License No. 589515 and has assisted tourist visa applicants, including extension and overstay cases, for over 16 years.

Need Help Resolving Your UAE Visa Status?

Whether you need a visa extension from inside the UAE, guidance on departing with accumulated fines, or help understanding your specific situation, our DTCM-licensed team can advise you on the right next step.