13 Visa Updates That Could Derail Your 2025 Travel Plans

11. UAE Revamps Golden Visa—But With Less Clarity

The UAE’s prestigious Golden Visa program underwent major updates in 2024, lowering entry barriers for freelancers, creatives, and tech professionals. However, new ambiguity around evaluation criteria and extended processing timelines has created uncertainty in 2025. Applicants now report delayed approvals, unclear rejection reasons, and shifting eligibility benchmarks. While the expansion theoretically boosts access, in practice, it's become a wait-and-watch game. For anyone eyeing Dubai or Abu Dhabi as a long-term base, meticulous preparation—and backup plans—are key. Don't rely on influencer anecdotes. Read the fine print, gather strong evidence of your impact, and prepare for administrative curveballs.