U A E Tourist Visa Requirements

Standard tourist visa requirements for entering the United Arab Emirates (UAE) depend on your nationality and passport type.

Core Requirements

If you need to apply for a tourist visa in advance, you must provide:

• Passport: Valid for at least 6 months from your intended arrival date.

• Photograph: Clear color photo with a white background.

• Travel Proof: Confirmed round-trip flight ticket.

• Accommodation Proof: Confirmed hotel booking or residential address/tenancy contract of a host in the UAE.

• Health Insurance: Valid travel medical insurance covering your stay in the UAE.

Categories of Entry

• Visa-Exempt / GCC Citizens: Citizens of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nations (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia) need only a valid national passport or ID card to enter.

• Visa on Arrival: Passport holders from around 70 countries—including the US, Canada, UK, Australia, EU nations, New Zealand, and Japan—receive a free 30-day or 90-day visa stamp upon landing at UAE immigration.

  • Note for Indian Citizens: Indian passport holders with a valid US visa, US Green Card, UK resident permit, or EU resident permit are eligible for a 14-day visa on arrival for a small fee.

• Pre-Arranged Tourist Visa: All other nationalities must apply for an entry visa before traveling. Standard options include 30-day or 60-day single or multiple-entry tourist visas. These can be applied for via registered travel agencies, approved hotels, or airlines (e.g., Emirates, Etihad, flydubai).

As a United States passport holder, you do not need to apply for a tourist visa before traveling to the United Arab Emirates.

You are eligible for a free Visa on Arrival stamped at immigration upon landing.

Key Entry Details

• Duration: Valid for up to 90 days within a rolling 180-day period (counted from your first entry).

• Cost: Free of charge.

• Validity: Non-renewable in-country; if you hit the 90-day cap, you must exit.

Arrival Document Checklist

When presenting your passport at UAE immigration, ensure you have:

• US Passport: Must be a standard US passport valid for at least 6 months past your arrival date, with at least one blank page for entry stamps.

• Flight Proof: Confirmed round-trip or onward travel ticket.

• Health Insurance: Proof of travel medical insurance covering your stay in the UAE.

• Proof of Accommodation: A confirmed hotel booking or host address details.

• Funds: Proof of sufficient financial means for your trip (checked at discretion).

(Note: If you hold a US Green Card but carry a passport from a non-qualifying country, entry requirements follow your country of citizenship, meaning an e-Visa must be secured before travel.)

Indian passport holders need a visa to enter the United Arab Emirates, but the process depends heavily on whether you hold specific foreign visas or residence permits.

1. Visa on Arrival (Conditional)

If you hold an ordinary Indian passport, you can get a 14-day Visa on Arrival upon landing at any UAE airport if you meet the following conditions:

• Qualifying Documents: You must hold a valid US Visa (B1/B2, H-1B, F-1, etc.), US Green Card, UK residence permit/visa, EU residence permit, or residence permits from Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, or South Korea.

• Validity: Both your Indian passport and the qualifying foreign visa/permit must have at least 6 months of validity remaining from your arrival date.

• Cost: 100 AED (approx. $27 USD / ₹2,300), payable at the airport immigration counter.

• Extension: Can be extended once in-country for an additional 14 days for 250 AED.

2. Pre-Arranged Tourist e-Visa

If you do not hold any of the qualifying foreign visas listed above, you must apply for a UAE e-Visa before traveling.

Common Visa Options:

• 30-Day Tourist Visa: Available as single-entry or multiple-entry.

• 60-Day Tourist Visa: Available as single-entry or multiple-entry.

• 48/96-Hour Transit Visas: Designed for brief layovers when flying with UAE airlines like Emirates, Etihad, or flydubai.

Application Methods:

• Through Airlines: If flying via Emirates, Etihad, flydubai, or Air Arabia, you can apply directly through their online portal using your booking reference.

• Through Travel Agencies/Hotels: Registered UAE travel agencies or 4/5-star hotels in the UAE can sponsor standard tourist visas.

• Standard Processing Time: Typically 3 to 5 business days.

Document Checklist for Pre-Arranged e-Visa

• Passport: Clear scanned color copy of the bio pages (front and back), valid for at least 6 months beyond the travel date.

• Photograph: Recent passport-sized photograph with a white background.

• Flight Tickets: Confirmed round-trip or onward flight itinerary.

• Accommodation Proof: Hotel reservation or residential details of a host/family member residing in the UAE.

As a British Citizen passport holder, you do not need to apply for a visa before traveling to the United Arab Emirates.

You are eligible for a free Visa on Arrival stamped directly at immigration upon landing.

Key Entry Details

• Duration: Valid for a total of 90 days within a rolling 180-day period (which can be used in a single trip or spread across multiple visits).

• Cost: Free of charge.

• Eligible Passports: Full British Citizen passports with right of abode. (Note: Other categories, such as British Overseas Citizens or UK Travel Document holders, must apply for a pre-arranged e-Visa before traveling).

Arrival Document Checklist

When presenting your passport at UAE airport immigration, make sure you have:

• British Passport: Must be valid for at least 6 months past your arrival date.

• Travel Proof: Confirmed round-trip or onward flight tickets.

• Health Insurance: Proof of valid travel medical insurance covering your stay in the UAE.

• Proof of Accommodation: A confirmed hotel booking or host address details.

(Note: If you reside in the UK under a BRP, Indefinite Leave to Remain, or UK eVisa, but carry a passport from another nation—such as India—your entry rules follow your primary passport's nationality.)