Sometimes a trip runs longer than planned. Before your Dubai tourist visa expires, you can apply to extend it. The information in this guide comes from the service page "Extending a tourist visa for a single or multiple trips" of the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs in Dubai (GDRFA) and the pages of the federal ICP, checked on 24 October 2026.
The official rule
- A single or multiple-entry tourist visa can be extended for the same period.
- An extension is possible once or more, by decision of the issuing authority.
- The total, with extensions, may not exceed 120 days. The ICP gives the same 120-day maximum for visit and tourism entry permits.
Who applies
GDRFA states that only licensed tourism offices in the emirate of Dubai issue this kind of visa. So if your visa was issued through a tourism establishment, the extension is usually applied for through the same establishment.
Documents and time
- The document required by GDRFA: a copy of the passport.
- Expected time: 48 hours.
Channels
- GDRFA's official website and app, around the clock, signing in with UAE Pass or a username;
- AMER service centres during working hours.
The fee
The official extension fee and VAT are on GDRFA's service page. If you are inside the UAE when extending, separate fees are added. GDRFA notes that the total may vary with the person's circumstances. Ask that page or the sponsoring establishment for the current amount before applying.
Timing tips
- Apply for the extension a few days before the visa expires, not on the last day. Processing takes 48 hours.
- Until the extension is issued, the current visa's expiry date applies. If you pass it, according to the ICP there is a fine of AED 50 per day.
- If you are close to the 120-day maximum, no further extension is possible; you must leave or look at another type of visa.
An alternative to extending
If you travel to the UAE often, consider a multiple-entry visa or the five-year multiple-entry tourist visa. On the five-year type, according to the ICP, you can stay up to 90 days each time and up to 180 days a year.
This article is general information and not legal advice. Decisions on extensions rest with the UAE authorities.
Sources
- GDRFA Dubai, extending a tourist visa for a single or multiple trips — https://gdrfad.gov.ae/en/services/1ce744f0-b801-11ed-5210-4cd98f768936 (checked on 24 October 2026)
- ICP UAE, issuance of a visa (the 120-day maximum, fine) — https://icp.gov.ae/en/services-details/?serviceid=64afe3c1035448005bd52e60 (checked on 24 October 2026)
- ICP UAE, FAQ (the five-year visa) — https://icp.gov.ae/en/faq/ (checked on 24 October 2026)