Do I Need a Visa for Dubai? A 2026 Check by Passport
Whether you need a visa for Dubai depends only on the passport you travel on. GCC citizens need no visa. Passport holders from around 80 countries, including the UK, US, Canada, Australia and every EU state, get a free visa stamped on arrival. Indian nationals and six other nationalities can get a paid 14-day or 60-day visa if they hold a qualifying US, UK, EU or other residence document. Everyone else must have a tourist visa arranged before boarding. The rules below are as of September 2026, and the UAE changes these lists from time to time, so check again close to your travel date.
Find your passport group
Work down the table and stop at the first row that matches your passport.
| Your passport | What you get | Stay allowed | What to do |
|---|---|---|---|
| GCC country (Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman) | No visa needed | No visa limit | Travel with a valid passport or national ID |
| 30-day list, e.g. Malaysia, Ireland, Hong Kong, Kazakhstan, Ukraine | Free visa on arrival | 30 days | Nothing to arrange in advance |
| 90-day list, e.g. UK, US, Canada, Australia, EU states, China, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Russia, Brazil | Multiple-entry visa on arrival, valid 6 months | 90 days in total | Nothing to arrange in advance |
| Mexico | Multiple-entry visa on arrival, valid 6 months | 180 days in total | Nothing to arrange in advance |
| India, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, Philippines, Kenya or South Africa, with a qualifying residence document | Paid 14-day or 60-day visa | 14 days (extendable once) or 60 days | Check the conditions below |
| Any nationality living in another GCC country | eVisa for GCC residents | 30 days, extendable once | Apply online before travel |
| All other passports, e.g. Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nigeria, and India or the Philippines without a qualifying residence | Pre-arranged tourist visa | 30 or 60 days | Apply through an airline, tour company, hotel or UAE sponsor |
The table gives examples, not every country. Our full list of UAE visa on arrival countries names every eligible passport in each group.
No visa needed: GCC citizens
Citizens of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman do not need a visa to enter the UAE. This applies to citizenship only. An expatriate who lives in Riyadh or Doha on a residence permit is not covered and falls under the GCC residents rule below.
Free visa on arrival: 30, 90 or 180 days
If your passport is on one of the visa on arrival lists, you do not apply for anything. You fly in, go to immigration and your passport is stamped. Emirates lists three groups:
- 30 days, free of charge: Andorra, Brunei, Hong Kong, Kazakhstan, Macau, Malaysia, Mauritius, Monaco, Mongolia, Republic of Ireland, Ukraine, Uzbekistan and Vatican City.
- 90 days in total, multiple entry, valid six months from issue: about 70 countries, including the UK, US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, all EU member states, Switzerland, Norway, China, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Russia, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Israel, Maldives and Seychelles. For the UK, US, Canada, Australia, China, Japan, Singapore and Brazil, the 90 days apply within any 180-day period.
- 180 days in total, multiple entry: Mexico.
Visa on arrival is based on the passport you present, not where you live. For what happens at the immigration desk, and for the documents officers can ask to see, read the Dubai airport entry checklist.
Residence-based visas for Indian and six other nationalities
Ordinary passport holders from India, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines, Kenya and South Africa can get a UAE visa without a sponsor if they hold one of these documents:
- a valid visa or residence permit issued by the United States, the United Kingdom or an EU member state, or a US green card
- a valid residence permit issued by Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Canada or Singapore
ICP lists two options: a 14-day visa at AED 100, extendable once, and a 60-day single-entry visa at AED 250 that cannot be extended, both plus service charges. The six extra nationalities and the extra residence countries were added on 25 June 2026. Family members travelling with an eligible applicant can also apply if they meet the conditions. Indian travellers can find more detail in our UAE visa guide for Indian passport holders, and Filipino travellers in our UAE visa guide for Filipino citizens.
GCC residents: apply for an eVisa first
If you live in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain or Oman on a residence permit but are not a GCC citizen, you need to apply for a UAE eVisa before arriving. Eligibility depends on a valid GCC residence permit and a profession on the approved list. The u.ae portal says the eVisa is valid for 30 days from issue, allows a 30-day stay from entry and can be extended once for 30 days.
Everyone else: arrange a tourist visa before you fly
If your passport is not covered above, you need a pre-arranged visa, and airlines will not board you without one. This group includes Pakistani, Bangladeshi and Nigerian passport holders, and Indian or Filipino travellers without a qualifying residence document.
- Who issues it: ICP, GDRFA Dubai, UAE airlines (Emirates, Etihad, flydubai) for their passengers, licensed tour companies, hotels, or a UAE resident sponsoring a relative or friend. UAE embassies do not issue tourist visas.
- Which visa: the standard options are 30-day and 60-day visas, single or multiple entry, plus a 5-year multiple-entry visa. Our UAE tourist visa types and costs page compares them.
- What to prepare: passport, photo, ticket and accommodation at minimum. Use the UAE tourist visa documents checklist before you apply.
Nigerian passport holders should read our UAE visa rules for Nigerian citizens, as conditions for Nigeria have changed several times. The online steps for any nationality are covered in the UAE e-visa application guide.
Three situations that catch people out
- Transit: staying airside at Dubai International during a connection does not count as entering the UAE. To leave the airport on a layover, you need to be in a visa-free or visa on arrival group, or hold a transit or tourist visa. Emirates sells 48-hour and 96-hour transit visas to its own passengers.
- Passport validity: every visitor needs a passport valid for at least six months from the date of entry, including visa on arrival nationalities.
- Working: no visa on arrival or tourist visa allows paid work in the UAE. Job hunting and employment need a visa issued for that purpose.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do US and UK citizens need a visa for Dubai?
No advance visa is needed. US and UK passport holders get a free multiple-entry visit visa stamped on arrival, allowing up to 90 days in total within a 180-day period. Your passport must be valid for at least six months from the date you enter.
Do Indian citizens need a visa for Dubai?
Yes, in most cases. Indian passport holders with a valid US visa or green card, a UK or EU visa or residence permit, or a residence permit from Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Canada or Singapore can get a 14-day or 60-day visa. Everyone else arranges a tourist visa before travelling.
Do Pakistani citizens need a visa for Dubai?
Yes. Pakistani passport holders must have a UAE visa arranged before they fly, usually through their airline, a licensed tour company or a UAE-resident sponsor. GDRFA Dubai also asks Pakistani applicants for a copy of their national ID card.
Do GCC residents need a visa for Dubai?
GCC citizens do not. Expatriates living in another GCC country need to apply for a UAE eVisa before arriving. Eligibility depends on holding a valid GCC residence permit and a profession on the approved list. The eVisa allows a 30-day stay and can be extended once for 30 days.
Is the Dubai visa on arrival free?
Emirates states that passport holders on the 30-day list are stamped with a visit visa free of charge, and the 90-day and 180-day groups likewise need no advance arrangements. The residence-based 14-day and 60-day visas for eligible Indian and other nationals are paid, at AED 100 and AED 250 in ICP fees.
How long must my passport be valid to enter Dubai?
At least six months from the date you enter the UAE. This applies to every visitor, including passport holders who get a visa on arrival.