Over 70 nationalities do not require a UAE or Dubai tourist visa to enter the UAE or Dubai. Rest must obtain a prearranged UAE tourist visa through a UAE-based sponsor.
A UAE tourist visa can only be applied for through a sponsor. Any UAE-based airline, hotel, company, Emirate national or UAE resident can sponsor your UAE tourist visa.
Thankfully, all UAE or Dubai tourist visas are e-visas. You can apply online and receive the e-visa in the email.
Indian nationals with a valid US visa or a residence permit from the US, UK or EU can get a Visa on Arrival at all international airports.
Table of Contents
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UAE TOURIST VISA REQUIREMENTS BY NATIONALITY
Minimum passport validity to enter UAE as a tourist
The passport must be valid for at least 6 months from the day of arrival
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VISA EXEMPT nationalities
Indefinite entry (based on freedom of movement)
- Bahrain
- Kuwait
- Oman
- Qatar
- Saudi Arabia
180-day entry
- Mexico
90-day entry (in any 180-day period)
- Argentina
- Austria
- Bahamas
- Barbados
- Belarus
- Belgium
- Brazil
- Bulgaria
- Chile
- Costa Rica
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- Czechia
- Denmark
- El Salvador
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Honduras
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Israel
- Italy
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lituania
- Luxembourg
- Maldives
- Malta
- Montenegro
- Nauru
- Netherlands
- Norway
- Paraguay
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania
- Russia
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
- San Marino
- Seychelles
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Solomon Islands
- South Korea
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Uruguay
30-day entry
- Andorra
- Australia
- Brunei
- Canada
- China
- Hong Kong
- Ireland
- Japan
- Kazakhstan
- Macau
- Malaysia
- Mauritius
- Monaco
- New Zealand
- Singapore
- Ukraine
- United Kingdom
- United States
- Vatican City
NOTE
UAE immigration refers to VISA-EXEMPT as VISA ON ARRIVAL. But you will not fill out any forms, pay any fee or receive any visa sticker or print, so in my opinion, it’s VISA EXEMPTION.
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VISA ON ARRIVAL Eligible Nationalities
14-day entry
- India*
* Must hold a valid visa from the US or a residence permit from the US, UK or any EU country.
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VISA REQUIRED Nationalities
30-day to 90-day entry depending on the visa
- Afghanistan
- Albania
- Algeria
- Angola
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Armenia
- Azerbaijan
- Bangladesh
- Belize
- Benin
- Bhutan
- Bolivia
- Bosnia & Herzegovina
- Botswana
- Burkina Faso
- Burundi
- Cambodia
- Cameroon
- Cape Verde
- Central African Republic
- Chad
- Colombia
- Comoros
- Congo, Dem. Rep.
- Congo, Rep.
- Cuba
- Djibouti
- Dominica
- Dominican Republic
- Ecuador
- Egypt
- Equatorial Guinea
- Eritrea
- Eswatini
- Ethiopia
- Fiji
- Gabon
- Gambia
- Georgia
- Ghana
- Grenada
- Guatemala
- Guinea
- Guinea-Bissau
- Guyana
- Haiti
- India
- Indonesia
- Iran
- Iraq
- Ivory Coast
- Jamaica
- Jordan
- Kenya
- Kiribati
- Kosovo
- Kyrgyzstan
- Laos
- Lebanon
- Lesotho
- Liberia
- Libya
- North Macedonia
- Madagascar
- Malawi
- Mali
- Marshall Islands
- Mauritania
- Micronesia
- Moldova
- Mongolia
- Morocco
- Mozambique
- Myanmar
- Namibia
- Nepal
- Nicaragua
- Niger
- Nigeria
- Pakistan
- Palau
- Palestine
- Panama
- Papua New Guinea
- Peru
- Philippines
- Rwanda
- Samoa
- Sao Tome and Principe
- Senegal
- Serbia
- Sierra Leone
- Somalia
- South Africa
- South Sudan
- Sri Lanka
- St Kitts and Nevis
- St Lucia
- Sudan
- Suriname
- Syria
- Taiwan
- Tajikistan
- Tanzania
- Thailand
- Timor-Leste
- Togo
- Tonga
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Tunisia
- Turkey
- Turkmenistan
- Tuvalu
- Uganda
- Uzbekistan
- Vanuatu
- Venezuela
- Vietnam
- Yemen
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
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UAE VISA EXEMPTION
UAE immigration refers to VISA-EXEMPTION as VISA ON ARRIVAL. But you will not fill out any forms, pay any fee or receive any visa sticker or print. When you arrive at the airport, you will head straight to the immigration and present your passport. You will be stamped and given entry. Therefore, in my opinion, it’s a VISA EXEMPTION and hence we will refer to it as a VISA EXEMPTION.
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Entry permission
30 to 180 days depending on the nationality.
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Documents to carry
All you need is your passport.
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UAE or DUBAI VISA ON ARRIVAL
UAE Visa on Arrival is available for Indian passport holders with a valid visa from the US or a residence permit from the US, UK or any EU country.
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Who is eligible for UAE Visa on Arrival
Only INDIAN passport holders with a valid US visa, US green card or residence permit from the UK or any EU country are eligible to obtain UAE Visa on Arrival.
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Validity of UAE Visa on Arrival
UAE Visa on Arrival is valid for 14 days. It’s possible to extend it once for another 14 days.
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How long can you stay in UAE with Visa on Arrival?
You can stay up to 14 days in the UAE with your Visa on Arrival. You can extend your visa for another 14 days at any AMER center in UAE. In that case, you can stay a total of 28 days in the UAE.
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Documents required
You need the following documentation to obtain a UAE Visa on Arrival.
- Original passport
- Your boarding pass
- A credit/debit card to pay the fee (you can also pay in cash in AED or USD in Dubai or Sharjah airports)
- Completed application form (only needed in Sharjah airport and they will provide you with one)
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Visa fee
Visa on Arrival fee varies from 105-140 AED depending on the airport.
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Processing time
Since it’s only Indian passport holders with a US visa, US green card or a residence permit from the UK or EU country, there will not be many in the line. So the Visa on Arrival process wouldn’t take more than a few minutes.
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Obtaining Visa on Arrival at the airports in UAE
UAE Visa on Arrival for Indian passport holders is outsourced to certain travel agencies.
If arriving at Sharjah airport, you must stop by the Sharjah Airport Travel Agency (SATA) desk to fill out the form, get your documents verified and pay the visa fee.
If arriving at Dubai airport, you must stop by the Marhaba Services desk to get your documents verified and pay the visa fee.
If arriving at Abu Dhabi airport, you must head straight to the immigration check. The immigration officer will verify your passport, and visa/residence permit and accept the visa fee payment.
RELATED: How to get UAE Visa on Arrival in Dubai, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi
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UAE or DUBAI TOURIST VISA
A UAE or Dubai tourist visa can only be applied through a UAE-based sponsor or an authorized agent. A sponsor can be a UAE-based airline, UAE-based hotel, UAE national or resident, UAE-based company or government entity or a UAE-based tour operator.
The sponsor is responsible for your actions in the UAE. If you overstay your visa, the sponsor is held responsible and will face consequences by the government of UAE.
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Why do you need a sponsor for a UAE tourist visa?
A UAE-based sponsor is mandatory for all UAE tourist visas. Your sponsor is responsible for all your actions while you are in the UAE. They must make sure you leave the country in time without overstaying your visa. If you don’t know anyone personally in the UAE, you can use either your airline, hotel or tour agent for your visa processing.
It’s silly to still use sponsors in this day and age. The sponsor model is an old model and many countries are moving away from such ways of visa processing. But countries such as UAE, Singapore, etc. are still stuck with this visa model.
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Which sponsor or agent should you use for your UAE tourist visa?
If you don’t have a sponsor, you can use a UAE-authorized agent to apply for your UAE tourist visa. There are a bazillion agents these days processing UAE tourist visas, including VFS Global.
Thanks to the internet, you can apply for a UAE tourist visa through an agent completely online in the comfort of your home. All you need is a scanned copy of your Passport ID page and a digital passport-size photo.
The fee, documentation and processing time vary by agent. Local agents in your country are usually cheaper but you must do your due diligence on their authenticity, hidden charges and processing time before applying through them.
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Which agent do I recommend for a UAE visit visa?
My preferred agent for UAE or Dubai tourist visas is Etihad Airways. I usually prefer a reputed international agent, so I went with Etihad Airways. They only act as an agent for your visa and you don’t have to fly with Etihad Airways. You can fly with any budget airline and travel to/from any international airport in the UAE.
Other agents that you can use and their fee for a UAE 30-day single-entry tourist visa is below.
My preferred agent
- Etihad Airways | 361 AED | Few hours | No security deposit
UAE based agents
- Arabiers | 359 AED | 24-48 hours
- Sharjah Airport Travel Agency (SATA) | 335 AED
India based agents
- MakeMyTrip | Approx. 311 AED | 7-9 days
IMPORTANT
Some agents will charge a security deposit which will be refunded to you on your exit from the UAE. So do your due diligence before applying for your UAE tourist visa with any of the above agents.
I have a detailed article on how to apply for a UAE or Dubai tourist visa online with Etihad Airways. Follow the article for step-by-step instructions on how to apply for your UAE tourist visa.
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What types of UAE tourist visas are available?
Below are some of the different types of tourist visas available.
- 30-day single-entry tourist visa
- 90-day single-entry tourist visa
- 30-day multiple-entry tourist visa
- 90-day multiple-entry tourist visa
- Long-term tourist visa
Most tourists usually need a 30-day single-entry tourist visa. It’s also the cheapest of all types of tourist visas. The procedure to apply for any of the above types of visas is pretty much the same, except for the fee.
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Validity of UAE visit visa
All UAE tourist visas are valid for 60 days within which you must enter the UAE. Then depending on your visa, you will be given that many days of permission to stay in the UAE.
For example, if you hold a 30-day single-entry tourist visa, your visa will be valid for 60 days. You can enter the UAE anytime within that 60 days. When you enter, immigration will give you 30 days to stay in the UAE.
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When to apply for your Dubai visit visa
You can apply for your UAE visit visa as early as possible. But apply at least 5 working days prior to your trip. Processing can take time and some agents require up to 10 working days to process.
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How long can you stay in the UAE with a tourist visa
You can stay up to 30 days or 90 days depending on your visa. You can also extend the visas within the UAE for an additional 30 days or 90 days.
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Documents required for UAE tourist visa
Usually, you will need the following documents.
- A scan of your passport ID page
- A recent colored digital photo
- A copy of your flight ticket
RELATED: How to get UAE or Dubai visa online in just a few hours – A step-by-step guide
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ENTRY AND EXIT PROCEDURE AT THE AIRPORT
Entering the UAE by air
After you arrive at the airport, walk towards passport control and baggage claim.
If you hold an Indian passport and are planning to obtain a UAE Visa on Arrival, head to the following visa agent desk for your Visa on Arrival process. Once your Visa on Arrival is processed head to the immigration.
- Sharjah Airport: SATA
- Dubai Airport: Marhaba Services
- Abu Dhabi: There are agents involved for Abu Dhabi airport, so head straight to the immigration
At the immigration, present your passport, boarding pass and Visa on Arrival fee receipt (if you hold an India passport and obtained Visa on Arrival) or your Dubai visit visa print.
The officers may ask you a few questions about your trip such as whether it’s your first time in UAE, how long you will stay, etc. You may be asked to show your return/onward ticket and your hotel booking.
If you are traveling on a one-way ticket, you can use OnwardTicket to get proof of an onward ticket.
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Leaving UAE by air
UAE airports have automated passport controls when leaving the country. You will simply arrive at one of the automated passport control kiosks, scan your passport and follow the voice instructions. When the voice says move forward and face the camera, you will do so. Then the exit gate will open and you will exit. No exit stamp is given.
If you are having any issues with automated passport controls, you will be sent to a manned passport control counter.
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CONCLUSION
A UAE or Dubai tourist visa is not required for 0ver 70 nationalities. Other nationalities must obtain a prearranged UAE tourist visa through a UAE-based sponsor or authorized agent.
All UAE or Dubai tourist visas are e-visas. You can apply online with your preferred agent and receive the e-visa in the email.
Indian nationals with a valid US visa or a residence permit from the US, UK or EU can get a Visa on Arrival at all international airports.
