Dubai Visa Guide 2026
Dubai makes visiting easy. Citizens of many countries — including the UK, the EU, the USA, Canada, and Australia — get a visa on arrival, free, just by showing their passport at the airport. Travellers from other countries, including Pakistan and India, can apply online for a tourist visa in a few days. This guide explains every option in simple English: who gets a visa on arrival, how to apply for a tourist visa, what it costs, and what documents you need.
Dubai visa — most tourists apply online in a few days.
TL;DR — The Short Version
Visa on arrival: free for UK, EU, USA, Canada, Australia, Japan, and many more — 30 or 90 days depending on your passport.
Tourist e-visa: 30-day and 60-day options for other nationalities, usually processed in 3–5 working days.
Fee: a 30-day tourist visa typically costs around $90–$150 including service charges (check the official rate).
Apply: through the official UAE visa portals, your airline (Emirates, Etihad, flydubai), or a hotel.
Who Gets a Visa on Arrival?
Citizens of more than 70 countries get a visa on arrival in the UAE, free of charge. This includes the UK, all EU countries, the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, and Malaysia.
Depending on your passport, the visa on arrival is valid for 30 days or 90 days (the 90-day visa is for most European passports). You just show your passport at immigration — no form, no fee, no waiting. Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months from your travel date.
Dubai Tourist Visa — For Other Nationalities
If your passport does not qualify for a visa on arrival, you need a tourist visa before you fly. The most common options are the 30-day single-entry tourist visa and the 60-day tourist visa. Both are single-entry unless you choose a multiple-entry version.
Apply online through the official UAE visa channels, through your airline (Emirates, Etihad, flydubai, and Air Arabia all offer visa services for their passengers), or through a hotel that is sponsoring your stay. Processing usually takes 3–5 working days.
Documents You Need for a Dubai Visa
- Passport: valid for at least 6 months, with a clear colour scan of the photo page.
- Passport photo: recent, white background, as per the official size.
- Flight booking: a confirmed return ticket.
- Hotel booking: or the address where you will stay.
- Bank statement: sometimes asked, to show you can pay for your trip.
- Travel insurance: strongly recommended, and required by some visa types.
For travellers from Pakistan, India, and similar countries, the airline visa service is often the easiest route — the airline checks your documents and applies for you.
Dubai Visa Fees
A 30-day tourist visa typically costs around
$90–$150 in total, including the visa fee and service charges. A 60-day visa costs more, usually around
$150–$250. Prices depend on where you apply — airline services and visa centres add their own service charge. Always check the final price on the official channel before you pay, and never pay an agent who promises a visa without documents.
Dubai Visa Tips
Apply early: start at least 2 weeks before your trip, in case of delays.
Use official channels: the UAE government portals, your airline, or a well-known hotel. Avoid random agents on social media.
Check your visa: when it arrives, check the name, dates, and number of entries carefully.
Overstay fines: overstaying a UAE visa brings heavy daily fines — always leave on time or extend before your visa ends.
Transit: if you are only changing planes in Dubai, you usually do not need a visa if you stay inside the airport.
Dubai Visa Types in Detail
Dubai offers several visa types, and choosing the right one saves money and trouble. The
30-day single-entry tourist visa is the most common — it suits a normal holiday, and it can usually be extended once for another 30 days from inside the UAE. The
60-day tourist visa suits longer trips or people visiting family; it costs more but gives you more time. The
multiple-entry tourist visa is for people who will enter and leave the UAE several times in a short period — for example, a trip that combines Dubai with Oman or a cruise that stops in Dubai more than once.
There is also a 48-hour and 96-hour transit visa, for travellers who have a long stopover in Dubai and want to leave the airport to see the city. Airlines usually arrange this for free or for a small fee — ask your airline when you book.
The 5-year multiple-entry tourist visa lets you enter the UAE many times over five years, staying up to 90 days per visit (and no more than 180 days in a year). It costs more, but it is excellent value for people who visit Dubai often.
Residents of GCC countries (Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman) have their own rules: GCC citizens do not need a visa at all, and GCC residents of certain professions can get a visa on arrival or an e-visa.
Indian citizens with a valid US, UK, or EU visa or residence permit can get a visa on arrival in Dubai — a useful rule that many Indian travellers do not know.
Whatever your situation, check the official UAE visa website for your exact passport and situation before you book, because the rules change and the official site is the only source you can fully trust.
Dubai Visa on Arrival — Who Qualifies?
The visa-on-arrival list is the easiest way to visit Dubai, and it covers more than 70 nationalities. It includes the UK, all EU countries, the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, and Malaysia. Most European passports get 90 days; most others get 30 days.
The visa is free and given at the airport — no form and no waiting in a visa line. One special rule helps Indian travellers: Indian citizens holding a valid US, UK, or EU visa or residence permit can get a visa on arrival in Dubai.
Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months, and you may be asked to show a return ticket and a hotel booking. If your passport is not on the list, apply for a tourist e-visa before you fly — do not travel without a visa and hope for the best.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a visa to visit Dubai?
It depends on your passport. Many nationalities get a free visa on arrival; others need a tourist visa before flying. Check the official UAE website for your passport.
How long does a Dubai visa take?
A tourist e-visa usually takes 3–5 working days. A visa on arrival takes no time at all — it is given at the airport.
How much is a Dubai tourist visa?
A 30-day visa typically costs around $90–$150 including service charges. Check the official rate before you apply.
Can I extend my Dubai visa?
Yes, tourist visas can usually be extended inside the UAE for 30 more days, for a fee, before the visa expires.
What happens if I overstay in Dubai?
You pay a fine for every extra day. Always leave on time or extend your visa before it ends.
Do children need a Dubai visa?
Yes, every traveller including children needs their own visa or visa-on-arrival entry, with their own passport.
Can I work in Dubai on a tourist visa?
No. A tourist visa is for visiting only. Working needs a work visa sponsored by an employer.
Is travel insurance required for Dubai?
It is strongly recommended and required for some visa types. It protects you if you get sick or have an accident.
Related Guides
Dubai Travel Guide · Schengen Visa Guide · Turkey e-Visa Guide · Travel Insurance Guide
Affiliate disclosure: GoFlyLo is reader-supported. When you book a flight, hotel, tour or other travel service through links on this page, we may earn a commission from our partners (Aviasales, Klook and other Travelpayouts programs) at no extra cost to you. Prices change often — always check the final price on the booking website before you pay.