How Indians get a Dubai tourist visa in 2026
Indian passport holders need a tourist visa arranged before they travel to Dubai. You cannot apply at the UAE Embassy or consulates in India: the visa is sponsored by a UAE-licensed tourism company or hotel, a UAE airline such as Emirates or Air Arabia, or a travel agent in India working with one of them. GDRFA Dubai's government fee for a 30-day single-entry tourist visa is AED 200 plus 5% VAT, and the visa is normally issued within 48 hours of submission. What you pay an agent or airline is higher because service charges and mandatory health insurance are added.
There is one shortcut. If you already hold a valid US visa or green card, a UK or EU visa or residence permit, or a residence permit from Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea or Singapore, you can skip this process and use the UAE visa on arrival for eligible Indians instead.
| Visa needed? | Yes, for ordinary Indian passports (unless eligible for visa on arrival) |
|---|---|
| Who applies | A UAE tourism company, hotel or airline acts as sponsor; you apply through them or a travel agent |
| Standard durations | 30 or 60 days (GDRFA Dubai); 30, 60 or 90 days on ICP-issued visas |
| Government fee | From AED 200 + 5% VAT (30-day single entry, GDRFA) |
| Processing | 48 hours at GDRFA once submitted |
| Passport validity | At least 6 months |
| Mandatory | Return or onward ticket, valid UAE health insurance |
Dubai tourist visa types and official fees
GDRFA Dubai, the immigration authority for Dubai, publishes the government fees below. They apply whichever licensed channel submits your application. Each fee is subject to 5% VAT, plus AED 10 Knowledge Dirham and AED 10 Innovation Dirham levies, and GDRFA adds AED 500 if the applicant is already inside the UAE when the visa is issued.
| Visa | Stay | Government fee |
|---|---|---|
| Single-entry tourist visa | 30 days | AED 200 + VAT |
| Single-entry tourist visa | 60 days | AED 300 + VAT |
| Multiple-entry tourist visa | 30 days | AED 300 + VAT |
| Multiple-entry tourist visa | 60 days | AED 500 + VAT |
| 5-year multiple-entry tourist visa | Up to 90 days per stay | AED 3,713 listed in total, including a AED 3,000 guarantee |
Fees checked on gdrfad.gov.ae in September 2026. GDRFA notes that the final amount can vary, so check the official service page before paying.
Which one to choose
- 30-day single entry: the usual choice for a one-week or two-week holiday.
- 60-day single entry: long family visits, or if your return date may move.
- Multiple entry: useful if you plan a side trip to Oman or another country and want to re-enter Dubai on the same visa.
- 5-year multiple entry: for frequent visitors. It needs no UAE host, but GDRFA asks for a bank balance of about USD 4,000 (or equivalent) over the previous six months. Each stay can last up to 90 days, extendable once by up to 90 days, with a ceiling of 180 days in a year.
Visas issued by ICP, the federal authority, are used by tourism companies outside Dubai and come in 30, 60 or 90-day versions. ICP's fee schedule is structured differently and includes a financial guarantee that the sponsoring company normally handles. Either kind of visa lets you enter through any UAE airport.
Not sure whether 30 days, 60 days or multiple entry suits your trip? Send us your travel dates and route.
Ask about Dubai tourist visa optionsDocuments Indians need for a Dubai tourist visa
GDRFA's official list is short. Most rejections come from poor scans and mismatched details, not missing paperwork.
- Passport copy: a clear colour scan of the bio page of an ordinary Indian passport with at least six months of validity.
- Personal photograph: recent, colour, plain light background, face fully visible.
- Return or onward ticket: GDRFA lists a ticket out of the UAE as an entry condition.
- Health insurance valid in the UAE: also a GDRFA condition. Agents usually include a basic policy; read our guide to travel insurance for Dubai if you want wider cover.
Some agents also ask for a hotel booking, a PAN card copy or bank statements. These are the agent's or sponsor's own checks rather than published GDRFA requirements, so ask what they need before you pay.
How to apply for a Dubai tourist visa from India
- Pick a channel. Options are a UAE airline you are flying with (Emirates, flydubai, Etihad and Air Arabia run visa services for their passengers), your UAE hotel if it offers visa sponsorship, a UAE-licensed tourism company, or an Indian travel agent who submits through one of these. The UAE Embassy in New Delhi confirms that UAE missions in India do not issue tourist visas.
- Choose the visa. Single or multiple entry, 30 or 60 days (or 90 days on an ICP visa).
- Upload documents. Passport scan and photo. Type your name exactly as it appears in the passport, including any given name printed on the second line.
- Pay. Ask for a breakdown showing the government fee, VAT, insurance and service charge.
- Receive the e-visa. It arrives by email as a PDF. Check your name, passport number, visa type and the date by which you must enter.
- Carry it. Keep a printed copy and a copy on your phone. The airline checks it at check-in in India.
Processing time
GDRFA lists 48 hours for issuing a tourist visa once the sponsor submits it; ICP lists two days for its tourist visa. The end-to-end time through an agent is longer because they need to collect and check your documents first. Applying at least a week before departure is sensible, and two weeks around Diwali, Christmas and New Year, when volumes rise. The entry permit must be used within a set window after issue: ICP lists 60 days for its visas, and the exact date appears on your e-visa.
Common reasons a Dubai tourist visa is rejected or delayed
- Passport with less than six months of validity.
- Blurred passport scan or a photo that does not meet the spec.
- Name on the application not matching the passport exactly.
- A previous overstay, absconding case or entry ban in the UAE system.
After you arrive: stay limits, extension and overstay
The stay is counted from your entry date. A GDRFA or ICP tourist visa can usually be extended from inside the UAE through the same sponsor, subject to a total stay cap of 120 days; the steps and fees are in our guide on extending a UAE tourist visa. Overstaying costs AED 50 a day under ICP's rules, and a record of overstay makes the next application harder, so see our page on UAE overstay fines if a flight change leaves you short.
Planning a trip to see family who live in the UAE, or moving for work or study? A tourist visa is the wrong tool; our overview of other UAE visa types for Indian citizens covers relative-sponsored visit visas, employment and residence visas. For the trip itself, our Dubai travel guide for Indian visitors covers flights, food and budgets.
Frequently asked questions
Do Indian citizens need a visa for a Dubai holiday?
Yes. Ordinary Indian passport holders need a tourist visa arranged before travel. The only exception is the visa on arrival for Indians who already hold a qualifying US, UK or EU visa or residence permit, or a residence permit from Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea or Singapore.
How much does a Dubai tourist visa cost for Indians?
GDRFA Dubai lists government fees of AED 200 for a 30-day single-entry tourist visa and AED 300 for 60 days, plus 5% VAT and small levies. Multiple-entry visas are AED 300 for 30 days and AED 500 for 60 days. Agents and airlines add their own service charges and usually bundle mandatory health insurance, so the price you pay is higher.
Can I get a Dubai tourist visa from the UAE Embassy in India?
No. The UAE Embassy in New Delhi states that UAE missions do not issue visit or tourist visas on ordinary Indian passports. The visa is arranged through a UAE-licensed tourism company or hotel, a UAE airline such as Emirates or Air Arabia, or a travel agent in India.
How long does a Dubai tourist visa take for Indians?
GDRFA Dubai lists 48 hours for issuing a tourist visa once the sponsor submits the application. Agents and airlines add their own handling time, so apply at least a week before travel, and earlier during Diwali and the December holidays.
What documents do Indians need for a Dubai tourist visa?
GDRFA asks for a passport copy with at least six months of validity and a personal photograph. Its entry conditions also require an onward or return ticket and valid health insurance for the UAE. Some agents ask for extra items such as a hotel booking, which are their own requirements.
Can Indians get a 90-day tourist visa for Dubai?
GDRFA Dubai's standard tourist visas are 30 or 60 days. ICP-issued tourist visas, arranged through licensed tourism companies, can be 30, 60 or 90 days. The 5-year multiple-entry tourist visa allows stays of up to 90 days at a time, up to 180 days a year with extensions.
Want someone to check your passport scan and dates before you pay an agent?
Ask us to review your visa details