https://www.timeoutdubai.com/ :If you’re thinking of taking a trip to Dubai for your next holiday, then you’re going to want to know about this.

Dubai is set to launch a new initiative that will make it easier than it already is to get your hands on a tourist visa.

Tourists will now be able to apply for visit visas directly through the Visit Dubai platform. The Shared Digital Channels Initiative will integrate government services, including tourist visa applications, into one platform, which will also include key visitor information and ways to book tickets for experiences.

The initiative will enable tourists to apply for single-entry and multiple-entry tourist visas, with plans to introduce further visa categories in the future.

It will streamline the visa application process while also allowing visitors to plan their entire Dubai itinerary with one platform, instead of navigating multiple sites, applications or entities.

The General Directorate of Identity and Foreigners Affairs – Dubai (GDRFA Dubai) will continue to be responsible for assessing visa applications and issuing visas, with further details to be announced soon.

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the UAE, and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai launched the new initiative on Sunday November 1.

He said: “We are committed to positioning Dubai among the world’s top three tourism destinations through initiatives that enrich every stage of the visitor journey and set new standards for hospitality and service excellence.

“Our goal is to make the city the preferred choice for travellers worldwide and a global benchmark for quality and convenience.

“Tourism is a key pillar of Dubai’s economy. By harnessing technology, fostering innovation and strengthening public-private partnerships, we aim to attract more investment, open up new opportunities and strengthen the sector’s contribution to long-term growth, in line with the Dubai Economic Agenda, D33.”

Hamad Obaid Al Mansoori, Director General of Digital Dubai, said: “The Shared Digital Channels Initiative brings services together through connected platforms, enabling people to access what they need through a seamless experience, regardless of the entity providing the service.

He added: “Enabling visitors to apply for tourist visas through the Visit Dubai platform, in collaboration with the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism and GDRFA Dubai, is a practical example of this approach.”

The initiative was launched at the same time as a new world-first invite-only tourism programme which will provide successful applicants with a five-year multi-entry visa with which they can stay for up to 90 days at a time within a one-year period, a free du SIM card and Dhs2,000 credit to spend at Dubai hotels, attractions and shops.