United Arab Emirates · Transit
Do you need a transit visa for the UAE?
In brief
It depends on whether you leave the airport, and on your passport. To step out of the airport, travellers who cannot enter visa-free or with a visa on arrival need a pre-arranged transit visa, for 48 or 96 hours, sponsored by the UAE-based airline they fly with.1 The 48-hour visa is free and the 96-hour visa costs AED 50, according to the earlier u.ae page.6 The official pages do not say in so many words that changing planes without leaving the airport needs no visa.
Checked 1 Nov 2026Source: UAE Government portal u.aeReport a change
Independent reference, not a government website. We don't issue visas or sell visa services.
ContentsIn brief
Who needs a transit visa
| Your situation | Changing planes airside | Leaving the airport | Official source |
|---|---|---|---|
| GCC citizens | Nothing | No visa | u.ae |
| Your passport gets a visa on arrival or enters visa-free | Not stated | No transit visaenter with the visa on arrival | UAE entry rules by nationality |
| Nationals of India, Indonesia, Kenya, Philippines, South Africa, Thailand and Vietnam with a residence permit of the US, an EU state, the UK, Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand or Canada | Not stated | Visa on arrival14 days (AED 100) or 60 days (AED 250) | ICP |
| Everyone else | Not stated | Pre-arranged transit visa48 hours free, 96 hours AED 50; through your UAE airline | u.ae: transit visa |
Changing planes without leaving the airport
The UAE's official pages tie the transit visa to stepping out of the airport; none says in so many words that changing planes airside needs no visa. Ask your airline before you book.1
If you are not eligible for a visa on arrival or a visa-free entry to the UAE, and intend to step out of the airport, then you need a pre-arranged transit visa.
UAE Government portal u.ae · checked
Leaving the airport: the 48- and 96-hour transit visas
- The UAE issues two transit visas, for 48 hours and for 96 hours. They are sponsored by UAE-based airlines and must be approved before you enter the UAE.1
- A transit visa is issued for 48 or 96 hours, is single-entry and cannot be extended.1
- A 48-hour transit visa cannot be changed into a 96-hour visa once issued (earlier u.ae page, last updated 30 Dec 2024).6
- Abu Dhabi's Residents Office says entry visas for transit allow a stay of only four days.7
- For the 48-hour transit visa: a passport or travel document valid for at least three months, a photo on a white background and an onward ticket to a third destination other than the one you come from (earlier u.ae page, last updated 30 Dec 2024).6
- For the 96-hour transit visa: a passport or travel document valid for at least six months, a photo on a white background and an onward ticket to a third destination (earlier u.ae page, last updated 30 Dec 2024).6
- Passports must be valid for at least 6 months from the date of entry, and the visa-on-arrival lists may change from time to time.2
Leaving the airport without a transit visa
- GCC citizens need no visa to enter the UAE.2
- If your passport gets a visa on arrival or enters visa-free, you need no transit visa to leave the airport: see the UAE entry rules by nationality.
- US citizens with regular passports need no visa before arriving in the UAE; the visa is issued on arrival for a one-month stay (UAE mission in Boston, Wayback capture of 18 June 2026).5
- Nationals of India, Indonesia, Kenya, Philippines, South Africa, Thailand and Vietnam with a valid residence permit of the United States, an EU state, the United Kingdom, Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand or Canada can get a visa on arrival.3 MOFA's announcement of the same scheme says it covers ordinary passport holders of Indonesia, Viet Nam, Thailand, the Philippines, Kenya and South Africa and their accompanying family members, with a valid residence permit from the listed countries.9 Under the visa on arrival for residence-permit holders announced on 25 June 2026, the 14-day visa costs AED 100 and the 60-day visa AED 250.3 The 14-day visa on arrival for residence-permit holders can be extended once in the UAE; the 60-day visa is single-entry and cannot be extended. Overstaying costs AED 50 per day.3
Fee and how to apply
| 48-hour transit visa | Free6From the earlier u.ae page (last updated 30 Dec 2024); the current page does not restate fees |
|---|---|
| 96-hour transit visa | AED 506From the earlier u.ae page (last updated 30 Dec 2024) |
| Departure fee | AED 30 per passenger passing through UAE airports6 |
| How to apply | Apply for a transit visa through the UAE-based airline you are travelling on, a travel agency or an airport hotel (u.ae, updated 28 July 2026).1Only the UAE-based airline you travel with can arrange the transit visa before the journey; a travel agency can help, but every visa is routed through the airline. Airline agents apply through the ICP eChannels portal, the UAEICP app or the online channels of each emirate's GDRFA (earlier u.ae page, last updated 30 Dec 2024).6 |
| Embassies | UAE embassies do not issue transit visas; travellers are told to ask the airline that flies them to the UAE (UAE mission in Boston, Wayback capture of 18 June 2026).5 |
| Official fees | u.ae says visa charges are stated on each service card on the ICP and GDRFA Dubai websites.8 |
Use official channels only. ICP warns about fake calls and counterfeit websites that misuse its name and tells customers to use only official channels such as the Smart Services Platform and the UAEICP app.10
Recent changes
- u.ae redesigned its transit visa page; it no longer states the fees or the documents. UAE Government portal u.ae · checked
- The visa on arrival with a US, EU, UK or other listed residence permit opened to nationals of Indonesia, Kenya, Philippines, South Africa, Thailand and Vietnam. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the United Arab Emirates · checked
FAQ
Do I need a transit visa for Dubai if I don't leave the airport?
The official pages do not say so in so many words: u.ae ties the transit visa to stepping out of the airport. Ask your airline before you book.
How much is a UAE transit visa?
The 48-hour transit visa is free and the 96-hour visa costs AED 50, according to the earlier u.ae transit page (last updated 30 Dec 2024); the current page does not restate fees. A departure fee of AED 30 is levied on each passenger passing through UAE airports.
How do I get a UAE transit visa?
Apply for a transit visa through the UAE-based airline you are travelling on, a travel agency or an airport hotel (u.ae, updated 28 July 2026). Only the UAE-based airline you travel with can arrange the transit visa before the journey; a travel agency can help, but every visa is routed through the airline. Airline agents apply through the ICP eChannels portal, the UAEICP app or the online channels of each emirate's GDRFA (earlier u.ae page, last updated 30 Dec 2024). UAE embassies do not issue transit visas; travellers are told to ask the airline that flies them to the UAE (UAE mission in Boston, Wayback capture of 18 June 2026).
Do Indians need a transit visa for Dubai?
Not if they can get a visa on arrival, which Indian passport holders get only with a valid visa, residence permit or US Green Card issued by the US, an EU state or the UK, or a residence permit from Japan, South Korea, Australia, Canada, Singapore or New Zealand; ordinary passports; applied for via ICP (14-day: AED 100, 60-day: AED 250). Otherwise, to leave the airport they need a pre-arranged transit visa, arranged by the UAE-based airline they fly with. See UAE visa for Indians.
Sources
Official sources only. Each was checked on the date shown.
- UAE Government portal u.ae (Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority): who needs a transit visa and transit visas
- UAE Government portal u.ae (Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority): who needs a transit visa and transit visas
- Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP): who needs a transit visa and fees and visas on arrival
- General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs Dubai (GDRFA Dubai): who needs a transit visa
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the United Arab Emirates (UAE mission in Boston, mofa.gov.ae): who needs a transit visa, transit visas and fees and visas on arrival
- UAE Government portal u.ae (Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority): transit visas and fees and visas on arrival
- Abu Dhabi Residents Office (Government of Abu Dhabi): transit visas
- UAE Government portal u.ae (Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority): fees and visas on arrival
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the United Arab Emirates: fees and visas on arrival
- Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP): fees and visas on arrival
More: United Arab Emirates entry rules by nationality · transit pages · all visa guides.
About this page
By the Visa Almanac editorial team. Every rule, fee and date on this page comes from the official sources listed above, each read on the day shown; where they are silent, we say so. Editorial policy · Change log
- Updated
- 1 Nov 2026
- Last checked
- Official sources
- 10