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United Arab Emirates · Entry rules

Who needs a visa for the UAE?

Entry rules for the UAE by nationality, for short tourist or business visits, from UAE Government portal (u.ae, TDRA), checked .

In brief

Citizens of 5 countries and territories can visit the UAE without a visa. 85 get a visa on arrival. Everyone else, 108 nationalities, needs a visa; some have another route with a residence permit or another visa, shown below.

UAE visa fee: AED 100 application, AED 100 per month for a single-entry visa (AED 200 per month multiple-entry), AED 100 smart services fee, and a refundable guarantee of AED 1,000 (single) or AED 2,000 (multiple) plus AED 20. Official fee. Source: ICP, checked .

Visa-free
5
On arrival
85
eVisa or ETA
0
Visa required
108

About 4.6 bn people (57% of the world's other nationalities by population) need a visa arranged before they travel to the UAE: a visa, an eVisa or a visa only with another permit.

Checked 1 Nov 2026Source: UAE Government portalReport a change

Most commonIndiaSaudi ArabiaPakistanCanadaUnited StatesSwitzerlandAll passports

United Arab Emirates entry rules at a glance

GroupStayNationalitiesExamplesSource
Free movementNot stated5Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, QatarUAE Government portal
Visa on arrival180 days1MexicoDubai Department of Economy and Tourism
Visa on arrival90 days within 6 months, multiple entry67Canada, United States, Switzerland, United KingdomDubai Department of Economy and Tourism
Visa on arrival30 days, extendable9Ukraine, Malaysia, Kazakhstan, Hong KongDubai Department of Economy and Tourism
Visa on arrivalNot stated8Russia, Uzbekistan, Ecuador, IrelandMinistry of Foreign Affairs of the UAE
Visa requiredAs granted108India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, NepalUAE Government portal

Free movement: Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait and 2 more

5 nationalities

Free movement by treaty.

Source: UAE Government portal (u.ae, TDRA), checked GCC citizens do not need a visa to enter the UAE.

Visa on arrival for 180 days: Mexico

1 nationality

The visa is issued at the border, for 180 days.

Source: Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (Visit Dubai), checked Citizens of Mexico can obtain a visa on arrival valid for 180 days.

Visa on arrival for 90 days within 6 months: Canada, the US, Switzerland and 64 more

67 nationalities

The visa is issued at the border, for 90 days within 6 months, multiple entry.

Source: Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (Visit Dubai), checked The multiple-entry visa upon arrival is valid for 6 months from the date of entry for a stay of 90 days total.

Visa on arrival for 30 days, extendable: Ukraine, Malaysia, Kazakhstan and 6 more

9 nationalities

The visa is issued at the border, for 30 days, extendable.

Source: Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (Visit Dubai), checked The visa on arrival is valid for 30 days from the date of entry. There is a 10-day grace period for extension.

Visa on arrival: Russia, Uzbekistan, Ecuador and 5 more

8 nationalities

The visa is issued at the border.

Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the UAE, checked Visa Free

Visa required: India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and 105 more

108 nationalities

Apply before you travel at an embassy or consulate of the UAE, or the visa centre it names.

Nationalities not listed above: the official source says so in as many words.

Source: UAE Government portal (u.ae, TDRA), checked GCC citizens do not need a visa to enter the UAE. Some of the other nationalities can obtain a visa on arrival while others need to apply for a visa in advance.

Or, for 1 of them: 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). Stay: 14 days (extendable once) or 60 days.

Source: Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP), checked For nationals of the Republic of India and their family members, the service is limited to ordinary passport holders and their family members who hold a valid visa, residence permit, or US Green Card issued by the US, EU, or UK

Or, for 6 of them: with a valid visa or residence permit 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; added 25 Jun 2026; applied for via ICP (14-day: AED 100, 60-day: AED 250). Stay: 14 days (extendable once) or 60 days.

Source: Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP), checked For nationals of Kenya, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines, and South Africa, the service is limited to ordinary passport holders and their family members who hold a valid visa, residence permit, issued by the US, EU, or UK

Or, for all of them: GCC residents only: a residence permit of a GCC state valid at least one year, and a profession on the approved list (skilled worker levels 1-3); entry visa applied for online via ICP or GDRFA Dubai before travel. Stay: 30 days, extendable once.

Source: Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP), checked The permitted stay period is (30) days for GCC residents, and (60) days for companions of GCC citizens.

Where to apply

Apply only on the official site, smartservices.icp.gov.ae. Look-alike sites charge extra for the same form. A visa is applied for at an embassy or consulate of the UAE, or the visa centre it names, in the country where you live.

These rules cover ordinary passports and short visits; work, study and transit have their own rules. Our guides: UAE visit visa: who needs one, the types and the fees, UAE transit visa: who needs one.

Most searched passports

FAQ

Do I need a visa to visit the UAE?

It depends on your passport: 5 nationalities are visa-free, 85 get a visa on arrival and 108 need a visa. Choose your passport above.

Do Indian citizens need a visa for the UAE?

Yes. Indian citizens need a visa before they travel to the UAE (UAE Government portal (u.ae, TDRA), checked 1 Nov 2026). Or 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). Stay: 14 days (extendable once) or 60 days.

Do Saudi citizens need a visa for the UAE?

No, not for a short stay. Saudi citizens can visit the UAE under free movement (UAE Government portal (u.ae, TDRA), checked 1 Nov 2026).

Can I apply for an United Arab Emirates visa online?

Yes, where the official site offers it, and some others through a residence permit or another visa. Apply only at smartservices.icp.gov.ae.

Sources and changes

  1. u.ae: Check if you need a visa to enter the UAEu.ae · checked 1 Nov 2026
  2. Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (Visit Dubai)visitdubai.com · checked 31 Oct 2026
  3. MOFA: visa information to enter the UAE (Visa Free / Visa Required by nationality)mofa.gov.ae · checked 1 Nov 2026
  4. Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP)icp.gov.ae · checked 1 Nov 2026
  5. Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP)icp.gov.ae · checked 1 Nov 2026
  6. ICP smart services (visa applications)smartservices.icp.gov.ae · checked 1 Nov 2026
  1. All groups checked against Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the UAE; Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP). No change since.

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Rules change without notice. Always confirm with the official source linked on each page before you travel.