Dubai Entry Visa 2026: Requirements for a Dubai Holiday Visa

Who needs a Dubai entry visa, the documents to prepare, 30 or 60 day options, fees, processing time and the rules once you land. Checked November 2026.

Planning a holiday in Dubai? Many visitors need a Dubai entry visa arranged before they fly. This guide covers the Dubai holiday visa: who needs one, which papers to prepare, what a Dubai travel visa costs, and how one UAE travel visa covers every emirate. Facts were checked in November 2026 against official UAE sources and recent reporting.

Do you need a Dubai entry visa?

It depends on your passport. Citizens of GCC countries enter freely. Many other nationalities, including the UK, the US and most EU countries, receive a free visit visa on arrival at the airport. Everyone else needs a visit visa issued before travel, through a sponsor such as a licensed travel company, a hotel, an airline or a relative who lives in the UAE. The official list of passports that get a visa on arrival is published on the UAE government portal u.ae. If your passport is not on that list, get your Dubai holiday visa before you book anything you cannot cancel.

One UAE travel visa for every emirate

A UAE travel visa issued for a Dubai holiday also lets you visit Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah and every other emirate. You do not need a second visa to cross from one emirate to another. Dubai visas are issued by GDRFA Dubai (gdrfad.gov.ae); visas for the other emirates are issued by the federal authority ICP (icp.gov.ae).

Traditional abra boats on Dubai Creek with the old town behind

Dubai holiday visa options: 30 or 60 days

30 day visa

A single entry visit visa for short holidays, city breaks and events.

60 day visa

A single entry visit visa for longer family visits or a slow holiday.

Single entry

The visa ends when you leave the UAE. A new trip needs a new visa.

Every emirate

Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and the rest of the country on one visa.

The General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs in Dubai (GDRFA Dubai), as reported by The National in June 2026, says tourist visas are usually processed within 48 hours. Busy periods such as Eid, school holidays and December can take longer. Choose a length that covers your whole trip: extending later costs more than picking the longer visa at the start.

Dubai entry visa requirements

For a standard tourist visa, GDRFA Dubai asks for the following. Keep every document clear, in colour and uncropped.

Passport

Valid for at least 6 months from arrival, showing a given name and a surname.

Photo

A recent colour photo on a white background, no glasses or filters.

Passport copy

A clear scan of the bio page, with no glare and no cut corners.

Return ticket

A confirmed return or onward ticket that matches your visa dates.

Medical insurance

Cover for your whole stay in the UAE.

Where you will stay

A hotel booking or your host's address, depending on your nationality.

Some nationalities are asked for extra papers, for example a bank statement or a copy of the host's residence visa. Real example: Maria applied with a hotel booking that ended two days before her return flight. The officer asked where she would stay for those two nights. Check that every date matches before you apply, and again before you fly.

An open passport with entry stamps on a table

How much does a Dubai travel visa cost?

The National reported in June 2026 that government fees for a Dubai tourist visa are about AED 230 for 30 days and about AED 340 for 60 days, before service and insurance charges. Applying while you are already inside the UAE adds AED 500. Final prices depend on your nationality and on the sponsor, so compare the full amount you will pay, not only the government fee. On Rambelz you see the total in your own currency before you pay.

Apply visa online: your Dubai holiday visa in five steps

Step 1. Choose a 30 or 60 day visa on our Dubai travel visa page. Step 2. Upload your passport scan and photo. Step 3. Add your travel dates and pay online. The form takes a few minutes. Step 4. A visa expert checks every document before we submit it. Step 5. Track your application live with your booking number. When a decision is issued, the visa arrives by email as a PDF. Print it, and keep a copy on your phone for the airline and the immigration counter.

Applying from home? We have pages for Pakistan residents, India residents and Philippines residents, with the papers usually asked for in each country.

At the airport

Airlines check your visa before you board. Carry the printed visa, your return ticket, your hotel booking and your insurance in one folder, and make sure the dates match. Flying from Pakistan or bringing parents from the Philippines? Read our Pakistan to UAE airport checklist and our guide for Filipino families visiting Dubai.

Staying longer: extensions and overstay

A tourist visa can be extended from inside the country. The National reported extensions at about AED 600 each, with a total stay of up to 120 days. If you stay past your visa without extending, a fine of AED 50 per day applies. Work out the amount with our UAE overstay fine calculator, and read our UAE overstay fine guide to see how it is counted and how to clear it before you leave.

A wind shaped sand dune in the desert outside Dubai at dusk

Common reasons for delays

Single name passport

Passports without a separate surname can be refused. Check yours before you apply.

Blurry scans

Unreadable pages are the most common cause of delays.

Earlier overstay

An unpaid fine from an earlier visit can stop a new visa.

Details that do not match

Names, dates and passport numbers must be the same on every document.

How Rambelz helps with travel visas

Apply visa online for your UAE travel visa in a few minutes and pay in your own currency. A visa expert checks every application before we submit it, and you can track it live with your booking number. We also arrange travel visas for many other countries. We cannot promise a visa: every decision is made by the UAE authorities. What we do is help you send a complete, accurate application the first time.

Apply for your Dubai travel visa

30 or 60 day UAE visit visa online. Checked by a visa expert before we submit it.

Frequently asked questions

How long does a Dubai entry visa take? GDRFA Dubai says tourist visas are usually processed within 48 hours. Allow more time in busy seasons.

Can I visit Abu Dhabi on a Dubai holiday visa? Yes. A UAE visit visa covers every emirate.

Can I work on a visit visa? No. A visit visa is for tourism and family visits. Working needs a work permit and a residence visa.

Does Rambelz guarantee my visa? No one can promise that. Visa decisions belong to the UAE authorities. We help you apply with complete, matching, genuine documents.

*Sources: GDRFA Dubai tourist visa services (gdrfad.gov.ae); ICP, Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (icp.gov.ae); UAE government portal (u.ae); The National, Dubai tourist visa guide, 9 June 2026. Fees and rules change, so check the latest before you travel. Submit only genuine documents. General information, not legal advice. Last checked: November 2026.*