Before getting a UAE tourist visa, check whether you may not need one at all. But do not trust old lists on unofficial websites; these lists change. The information in this article comes from the official pages of the federal authority ICP and the UAE government portal (u.ae), checked on 24 October 2026.
Three general situations
- Nationals of some countries enter without a visa in advance or with a visa on arrival.
- For some nationalities, a valid residence permit from certain countries opens the way to a simpler entry visa.
- Everyone else must get a visa before travelling; the tourist visa is applied for by licensed tourism establishments, UAE airlines or hotels.
A recent example: the June 2026 expansion
On 25 June 2026, ICP announced:
- Previously only Indian nationals were in this group; six new nationalities were added: Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines, Kenya and South Africa.
- Condition: a valid residence permit from the United States, a European Union member state or the United Kingdom, and from now on also Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand and Canada.
- Two kinds of visa: 14 days, extendable once during the stay, and 60 days, single-entry and not extendable.
- The announced fees: 100 dirhams for 14 days and 250 dirhams for 60 days.
- The fine for overstaying: 50 dirhams a day.
How to check your status
- Look at the visa and entry section of the official u.ae portal.
- If you have more than one passport, or residence in another country, check each one separately.
- Before travelling, ask your airline too; airlines check entry documents before boarding.
If you need a visa
The Dubai tourist visa, for 30 or 60 days, single or multiple entry, is issued through a licensed tourism establishment. The guide "The Dubai tourist visa" explains all the steps.
This article is general information and is not legal advice. Decisions on entry rest with the UAE authorities.
Sources
- ICP UAE, expanding eligibility for the UAE entry visa for nationals of certain countries (25 June 2026) — https://icp.gov.ae/en/media-center/icp-expands-eligibility-for-uae-entry-visa-for-nationals-of-certain-countries/ (checked on 24 October 2026)
- Official UAE government portal, tourist visa (updated on 1 October 2026) — https://u.ae/en/information-and-services/visa-and-emirates-id/Types-of-visas/tourist-visa (checked on 24 October 2026)