About 92 nationalities do not require a UAE visa to enter the UAE (Dubai or Abu Dhabi) as tourists. 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, Emirati national or UAE resident can sponsor your UAE tourist visa.
All UAE or Dubai tourist visas are e-visas. You can apply online via a sponsor and receive the e-visa.
Indian nationals with a valid visa from the US, UK and Schengen or a residence permit from the US, UK, EU, Canada, Australia, Japan or Singapore can get a Visa on Arrival at all international airports.
Table of Contents
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UAE Visa Policy
Citizens of GCC countries can travel to the UAE without a visa for extended periods of time. Mexican nationals are eligible to stay up to 180 days in the UAE without a visa. Citizens of many other countries are exempted from visa for 30-90 days.
Indian nationals are eligible to obtain a 14-day VOA if holding a visa from the US, UK or Schengen or a residence permit from the US, UK, EU, Canada, Australia, Japan or Singapore.
The rest of the nationalities must obtain a tourist visa from a UAE-based sponsor, such as UAE-based airlines, hotels, tour operators or travel agents.
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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UAE Visa Exemption (VISA-FREE)
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.
Eligible countries
Indefinite entry (based on freedom of movement for GCC countries)
- Bahrain
- Kuwait
- Oman
- Qatar
- Saudi Arabia
180-day entry
- Mexico
90-day entry (in any 180-day period)
- Albania
- Argentina
- Armenia
- Australia
- Austria
- Azerbaijan
- Bahamas
- Barbados
- Belarus
- Belgium
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Brazil
- Bulgaria
- Canada
- Chile
- China
- Colombia
- Costa Rica
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- Czechia
- Denmark
- El Salvador
- Estonia
- Fiji
- Finland
- France
- Georgia
- Germany
- Greece
- Guyana
- Honduras
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Israel
- Italy
- Japan
- Kiribati
- Kosovo
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Maldives
- Maldova
- Malta
- Montenegro
- Nauru
- Netherlands
- New Zealand
- North Macedonia
- Norway
- Paraguay
- Peru
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania
- Russia
- San Marino
- Serbia
- Seychelles
- Singapore
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Solomon Islands
- South Korea
- Spain
- St Vincent and the Grenadines
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- United Kingdom
- United States
- Uruguay
30-day entry
- Andorra
- Brunei
- Hong Kong
- Kazakhstan
- Macau
- Malaysia
- Mauritius
- Monaco
- Mongolia
- Ireland
- Ukraine
- Uzbekistan
- Vatican City
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UAE Visa on Arrival
The UAE Visa on Arrival is available for Indian passport holders with a valid visa or residence permit from the US, UK or Schengen.
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Who is eligible for UAE Visa on Arrival
Only Indian passport holders with the following visas or residence permits are eligible to obtain UAE Visa on Arrival. These visas or residence permits must be valid for at least 6 months are the time of entering the UAE.
Eligible visas
- US visa (non-immigrant multiple-entry visas such as B1, B2, B1/B2, L1, H1, F1, J1, etc. except for C1)
- UK visa (short stay standard visitor visa)
- Schengen visa (short or long stay visa, except for those issued by Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and Liechtenstein)
Eligible residence permits
- Australia residence permit
- Canada PR card
- EU residence permit (any type of residence permit from any EU country)
- Japan residence permit
- New Zealand residence permit
- Singapore residence permit
- South Korea residence permit
- UK residence permit (ILR, BRP or spouse visas)
- US green card
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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 the UAE. In total, you can stay up to 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)
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Visa fee
The Visa on Arrival fee depends on the arrival airport in the UAE. These are the UAE VOA fees for 2025 at the 3 international airports in the UAE.
- Sharjah: 125 AED
- Dubai: 240 AED
- Abu Dhabi: 140 AED
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Obtaining Visa on Arrival at the airports in UAE
The 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.
For more information, refer to this step-by-step guide to obtaining the UAE Visa on Arrival in Dubai, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi
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UAE Tourist Visa (eVisa)
A UAE or Dubai tourist visa can only be applied for 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 from the government of the UAE.
Visa required nationalities
- Afghanistan
- Algeria
- Angola
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Bangladesh
- Belize
- Benin
- Bhutan
- Bolivia
- Botswana
- Burkina Faso
- Burundi
- Cambodia
- Cameroon
- Cape Verde
- Central African Republic
- Chad
- Comoros
- Congo, Dem Rep of
- Congo, Rep of
- Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast)
- Cuba
- Djibouti
- Dominica
- Dominican Republic
- Ecuador
- Egypt
- Equatorial Guinea
- Eritrea
- Eswatini
- Ethiopia
- Gabon
- Gambia
- Ghana
- Grenada
- Guatemala
- Guinea
- Guinea-Bissau
- Haiti
- India
- Indonesia
- Iran
- Iraq
- Jamaica
- Jordan
- Kenya
- Kyrgyzstan
- Laos
- Lebanon
- Lesotho
- Liberia
- Libya
- Madagascar
- Malawi
- Mali
- Marshall Islands
- Mauritania
- Micronesia
- Morocco
- Mozambique
- Myanmar
- Namibia
- Nepal
- Nicaragua
- Niger
- Nigeria
- North Korea
- Pakistan
- Palau
- Palestinian Territory
- Panama
- Papua New Guinea
- Philippines
- Rwanda
- Samoa
- São Tomé and Príncipe
- Senegal
- 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
- Vanuatu
- Venezuela
- Vietnam
- Yemen
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
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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 the 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 used to be Etihad Airways. But they stopped offering 30-day tourist visas. Many other agents operating in the UAE and outside that process UAE visas. Some of them are below.
UAE-based agents
- Musafir | 395 AED | 3-5 working days
- Rayna Tours | 450 AED | 4-5 working days
- Arabiers | 489 AED | 24-48 hours
India-based agents
- MakeMyTrip | Approx. 310 AED | Up to 4 working days
- Akbar Travels | Approx. 310 AED | 48 hours
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 tourist visa online. 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 those 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
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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 no agents involved for Abu Dhabi airport, so head straight to the immigration
At immigration, present your passport, boarding pass and Visa on Arrival fee receipt (if you hold an Indian passport and obtained a 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 the UAE, how long you will stay, etc. You may be asked to show your proof of return ticket and your hotel booking.
If you are traveling on a one-way ticket, you can use BestOnwardTicket to get proof of an onward ticket.
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Leaving the 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.
