British passport · United Arab Emirates
Do British citizens need a visa for Dubai and the UAE?
In brief
Yes, but they can get it on arrival: British passport holders get a visa on arrival in the UAE (90 days within 6 months, multiple entry).
Dubai (UAE) visa fee for British citizens: Dubai's official tourism site says most passport holders are eligible for a visa on arrival at no cost. Official fee. Source: Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism, checked , read from an archived copy of 24 Oct 2026.
Dubai (UAE) visa processing time for British citizens: none: the visa is issued on arrival at the border.
The multiple-entry visa upon arrival is valid for 6 months from the date of entry for a stay of 90 days total.
Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (Visit Dubai)
Checked 1 Nov 2026Source: Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (Visit Dubai)Visas only at smartservices.icp.gov.aeReport a change
Independent reference, not a government website. We don't issue visas or sell visa services.
ContentsIn brief
At a glance
| Access | Visa on arrival · 90 days within 6 months, multiple entry |
|---|---|
| Stay | 90 days within 6 months, multiple entry |
| Validity and entries | Not stated by the official source |
| Official fee | Dubai's official tourism site says most passport holders are eligible for a visa on arrival at no cost.1 |
| Official processing | Issued on arrival; no processing time stated |
| Where to apply | Nothing to apply for in advance: the visa is issued on arrivalOfficial site: smartservices.icp.gov.ae |
Do British citizens need a visa for the UAE?
Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (Visit Dubai) lists the UK among the countries whose nationals get a visa on arrival. Stay: 90 days within 6 months, multiple entry.
“The multiple-entry visa upon arrival is valid for 6 months from the date of entry for a stay of 90 days total.”
Conditions and exceptions
Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months from the date you enter the UAE.
Note: Passports must be valid for at least 6 months from the date of entry into the UAE.
UAE Government portal · checkedOverstaying brings fines for each extra day; to extend, contact GDRFA in Dubai or the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (ICP) elsewhere in the UAE.
You could face fines for exceeding your authorised stay which may accumulate for each day of overstay. If you want to extend your stay, contact: for Dubai: General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs for the rest of the UAE: Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship
UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office · checkedYou must not have been deported from or banned from entering the UAE before; otherwise special permission is needed.
You must not have been previously deported or banned from entering the UAE. A visa ban prohibits a person from entering the country or taking up a new job. If either of these conditions apply, you must obtain special permission to re-enter the UAE.
Abu Dhabi Residents Office · checked
UAE visa types for British citizens
The visa issued on arrival allows up to 90 days within 180 days from your first entry, in one stay or across several visits.
UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office · checked
How to apply
British citizens get the visitor visa free of charge on arrival: there is nothing to apply for in advance, and the visa is stamped in the passport at immigration.
UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office · checked
Fee
Dubai's official tourism site says most passport holders are eligible for a visa on arrival at no cost.
Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism · checked · read from an archived copy of 24 Oct 2026
These are government fees as the official sources state them. Agencies add their own service fees; those are not visa fees, and we don't list them.
Processing time
The visa is issued on arrival at the border; the official sources we read state no processing time.
Documents and entry checks
What changed
- Checked against the official sources on this page: the rule above still holds.
FAQ
Is Dubai visa free for British citizens now?
Not visa-free: British citizens get a visa on arrival (90 days within 6 months, multiple entry).
How much does a UAE visa cost for British citizens?
Dubai's official tourism site says most passport holders are eligible for a visa on arrival at no cost.
Can I get a UAE visa in 7 days?
The visa is issued on arrival at the border. The official sources we read state no processing time.
Other trips on a British passport
Sources
Official sources only. Each was checked on the date shown.
- Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (Visit Dubai): entry rule and fees
- UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (GOV.UK foreign travel advice): visa types, how to apply and entry conditions
- UAE Government portal (u.ae, TDRA): entry conditions
- Abu Dhabi Residents Office (Government of Abu Dhabi): entry conditions