A UAE tourist visa is a pre-arranged entry permit for leisure visits, issued as a 30-day or 60-day visa with single or multiple entry, or as a 5-year multiple-entry visa for frequent visitors. You only need one if your passport does not qualify for visa-free entry or a visa on arrival. The 30-day single-entry visa carries a government fee of AED 200 at GDRFA Dubai, but the price you pay through an airline or agent is higher once VAT and service charges are added. Fees and rules below are as of September 2026; check the issuing channel before you pay.
| Standard durations | 30 days or 60 days from the date of entry |
|---|---|
| Entry types | Single entry or multiple entry |
| Long-term option | 5-year multiple-entry tourist visa, up to 90 days per stay |
| Government fee (GDRFA Dubai) | AED 200 (30-day single entry) to AED 500 (60-day multiple entry), plus VAT and small federal fees |
| Time to use it | Usually 60 days from issue to enter the UAE |
| Who issues it | ICP, GDRFA Dubai, UAE airlines, licensed tourism companies and hotels. UAE embassies do not issue tourist visas. |
Who needs a UAE tourist visa
Most visitors to Dubai and Abu Dhabi never apply for one. GCC citizens need no visa, and passport holders from a long list of countries, including the UK, US, Canada, Australia and all EU states, get a free visa stamped on arrival. You need a pre-arranged tourist visa if your passport is not on those lists, for example Indian, Pakistani, Nigerian, Bangladeshi or Filipino passports, unless you qualify for a residence-based scheme.
Our decision guide, do I need a visa for Dubai, sorts every passport group, and the full visa on arrival country list shows which passports get 30, 90 or 180 days free.
30-day vs 60-day UAE tourist visa
The two standard durations work the same way. The only differences are how long you can stay and the price. Your stay count starts on the day you land.
- 30-day visa: covers a typical holiday or a short family visit. If your trip is 20 days or fewer, the 30-day visa leaves a buffer for flight changes.
- 60-day visa: suits long family visits, winter stays and trips split between several emirates. It usually costs less than buying a 30-day visa and extending it.
- Extensions: both can be extended from inside the country before they expire. See how UAE tourist visa extensions work for the steps.
A 90-day pre-arranged tourist visa is not part of the standard range. If you need 90 days, look at the 5-year visa below, or check whether your passport already gets 90 days on arrival.
Single entry vs multiple entry
A single-entry visa is used up the moment you leave the UAE, even if days remain. A multiple-entry visa lets you leave and return while it is still valid, which matters if you plan a side trip to Oman, a weekend in another Gulf country, or a stopover on the way home.
- Choose single entry if you arrive and leave once. It is the cheaper option.
- Choose multiple entry if any part of your itinerary crosses a UAE border and comes back. The stay count starts from your first entry.
- Crossing into Oman by road and returning on a single-entry visa means you need a new UAE visa to re-enter.
Planning a UAE trip with a side trip to Oman or another Gulf country?
Ask us about single vs multiple entryUAE tourist visa costs in 2026
There are two prices to know. The government fee is what GDRFA Dubai lists on its service pages. The price you pay is what the airline, hotel or tour company charges after adding VAT, federal fees and its own processing fee.
| Visa type | Stay | GDRFA Dubai fee | Emirates price (incl. VAT) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tourist, single entry | 30 days | AED 200 | USD 90 |
| Tourist, multiple entry | 30 days | AED 300 | USD 136 |
| Tourist, single entry | 60 days | AED 300 | USD 177 |
| Tourist, multiple entry | 60 days | AED 500 | USD 231 |
| 5-year multiple entry | Up to 90 days per stay | AED 3,713 total, including an AED 3,000 guarantee | Not sold by Emirates |
| Transit | 48 or 96 hours | Not listed here | USD 10 or USD 49 |
GDRFA fees exclude 5% VAT and AED 20 in Knowledge and Innovation Dirham fees, and GDRFA adds AED 500 if the applicant is already inside the UAE. Emirates prices apply only to passengers with a confirmed Emirates ticket, and VFS processing fees are charged on top. Other airlines, hotels and agents set their own service charges. Visa fees are non-refundable.
The 5-year multiple-entry tourist visa
This is the right tourist visa for people who visit the UAE several times a year, such as parents of UAE residents or regular business-leisure travellers. It is self-sponsored, so you do not need a UAE company or relative to back the application.
- Stay per visit: up to 90 days, extendable once for another 90 days, with a maximum of 180 days in any one year.
- Financial proof: a bank balance of USD 4,000 or the equivalent in other currencies over the six months before you apply.
- Other conditions: health insurance valid in the UAE and a return or onward ticket.
- First entry: you must enter within 60 days of issue. After that, the visa becomes multiple entry for the rest of its validity.
At GDRFA Dubai the total comes to AED 3,713, of which AED 3,000 is a guarantee amount. Processing is listed at 48 hours.
Where UAE tourist visas are issued
Tourist visas are issued inside the UAE system, not by UAE embassies abroad. The main channels are ICP (the federal authority), GDRFA Dubai, UAE-based airlines (Emirates, Etihad and flydubai) for their own passengers, and licensed tourism companies and hotels. A GDRFA single-entry tourist visa must be sponsored by an establishment working in tourism, which is why most travellers go through their airline or a tour operator. The UAE e-visa application walkthrough covers the online steps, and the tourist visa documents checklist covers what to upload.
Rules that apply to every UAE tourist visa
- Entry window vs stay: you usually have 60 days from issue to enter, and your 30 or 60-day stay counts from arrival.
- All seven emirates: one visa covers Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and the rest.
- No paid work: a tourist visa does not allow employment. Job seekers need a visa issued for that purpose.
- Passport validity: at least six months from the date you enter the UAE.
- Overstays cost money: fines are charged for every day past expiry. Read what UAE overstay fines cost before you cut it close.
Not sure whether a 30-day, 60-day or 5-year visa makes sense for your plans?
Ask us to compare the options