UAE Joins Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Qatar, Oman, Israel, Lebanon, and Others in Middle East to Face a Significant Hike in Visa Fees and New Travel Charges to US Under One Big Beautiful Bill: Everything You Need to Know

Published on November 25, 2025

UAE joins Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Qatar, Oman, Israel, Lebanon, and others in the Middle East to face a significant hike in visa fees and new travel charges to the US under the One Big Beautiful Bill, impacting costs and entry procedures. The bill introduces several key changes, including a $250 Visa Integrity Fee for most non-immigrant visa applicants, which will raise the cost of securing US visas for travelers from these countries. Additionally, the bill includes increased fees for the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) and other travel-related services, along with enhanced funding for border enforcement. These changes are expected to lead to stricter entry procedures, potentially causing delays at US ports of entry and longer processing times for Middle Eastern nationals.

Overview of the One Big Beautiful Bill

The One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBBA) represents a comprehensive update to U.S. visa and travel regulations, introducing several significant changes that will impact both U.S. travelers and international visitors. One of the most notable provisions is the introduction of a $250 Visa Integrity Fee, which will apply to most non-immigrant visa applicants, including tourists, students, and exchange visitors. Additionally, the bill increases several existing travel-related fees, such as the ESTA fee for Visa Waiver Program countries, and mandates inflation-based adjustments for certain fees. In terms of enforcement, the bill allocates funding to hire more Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers, aiming to reduce wait times at U.S. ports of entry. However, the bill has raised concerns among tourism officials, who argue that these changes may deter international visitors, especially with major global events like the World Cup and Olympics approaching. Below is a summary of the key changes:

Impact of the One Big Beautiful Bill on Travelers from Key Tourism Markets

United Arab Emirates: Travelers from the United Arab Emirates will see an increase in the cost of obtaining a U.S. visa due to the $250 Visa Integrity Fee. With the bill’s added funding for enhanced border enforcement, UAE nationals may face more rigorous entry checks and potentially longer processing times for U.S. visas, causing possible delays at U.S. ports of entry.

Saudi Arabia: Saudi nationals will be impacted by the $250 Visa Integrity Fee, which will raise the cost of securing a U.S. tourist or non-immigrant visa. The additional funding for border enforcement under the bill could lead to stricter entry procedures and longer processing times, potentially causing delays for Saudi travelers seeking to enter the U.S.

Qatar: Qatari nationals will experience an increase in the cost of obtaining a U.S. visa due to the $250 Visa Integrity Fee. With the bill’s focus on enhancing border security, Qatari travelers may face more detailed entry checks and longer wait times during visa processing and at U.S. entry points, leading to possible delays for travelers from Qatar.

Oman: Omani travelers will face the $250 Visa Integrity Fee, raising the cost of securing a U.S. visa. The bill’s focus on increasing border enforcement measures may result in stricter entry procedures and potentially longer visa processing times, which could cause delays for Omani nationals entering the U.S.

Turkey: Turkish nationals will be subject to the $250 Visa Integrity Fee, which will raise the overall cost of obtaining a U.S. visa. The additional funding for border enforcement may result in more stringent entry checks, longer visa processing times, and potentially more thorough checks for Turkish nationals, causing possible delays.

Israel: Israeli travelers will see a rise in U.S. visa costs due to the $250 Visa Integrity Fee. The bill’s funding for enhanced border enforcement could lead to stricter entry procedures and potentially longer processing times at U.S. ports of entry, causing inconvenience and delays for Israeli nationals.

Egypt: Egyptian nationals will experience an increase in the cost of obtaining a U.S. visa due to the $250 Visa Integrity Fee. With the bill’s focus on improving border security, Egyptian travelers may face more detailed entry checks, longer wait times during the visa application process, and delays at U.S. entry points.

Lebanon: Lebanese travelers will face the $250 Visa Integrity Fee, raising the overall cost of securing a U.S. visa. The bill’s increased funding for border enforcement may lead to more stringent entry procedures, potentially causing longer processing times and more thorough checks at U.S. ports of entry for travelers from Lebanon.

UAE joins Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Qatar, Oman, Israel, Lebanon, and others in the Middle East to face a significant hike in visa fees and new travel charges to the US under the One Big Beautiful Bill, impacting costs and entry procedures.

Conclusion

The UAE joins Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Qatar, Oman, Israel, Lebanon, and others in the Middle East to face a significant hike in visa fees and new travel charges to the US under the One Big Beautiful Bill. This comprehensive update to U.S. visa and travel regulations introduces a $250 Visa Integrity Fee, increased ESTA fees, and higher visa application costs, all of which will significantly impact travelers from the region. Additionally, enhanced border enforcement funding may result in stricter entry procedures and longer processing times, further affecting travel plans. The changes highlight the growing financial and procedural challenges that Middle Eastern travelers will face when entering the U.S. under the new regulations.