Indian passport holders with a valid visa, residence permit or green card from the US, the UK or an EU country, or from Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand or Canada, can get a Dubai visa on arrival: 14 days for AED 100, or 60 days for AED 250. Everyone else must have a visa before boarding. This guide covers the conditions, the application routes, the documents, the fees as reported, and the mistakes that get passengers refused at check-in.
By SB Excursions · Published 3 November 2026 · Updated 3 November 2026
While you are in Dubai: Abu Dhabi City Tour from Dubai — From $45 per person, 9 hours.
Can Indian passport holders get a visa on arrival in Dubai?
Yes, if they hold a valid visa, residence permit or green card from the US, the UK or an EU country, or from Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand or Canada. The fee for a 14-day visa is AED 100, per Khaleej Times citing ICP. The passport must be valid for at least six months.
This guide also answers:
- How long can I stay on the Indian visa on arrival?
- How much does a Dubai e-visa cost for Indian citizens?
- Is there a five-year tourist visa for Dubai?
Five ways to enter Dubai on an Indian passport
#1
Visa on arrival, 14 days
For eligible Indian passport holders the fee for a 14-day entry visa is AED 100, according to Khaleej Times citing ICP. It can be extended once for another 14 days at AED 250. The passport and the qualifying visa should each be valid for at least six months.
#2
Visa on arrival, 60 days
Khaleej Times, citing ICP, puts the fee for a 60-day visa at AED 250. Gulf News reported that this visa cannot be extended. It is the option for travellers who do not want the extension step, and the same eligibility rules apply.
#3
A visa through an airline, an agent or a hotel
The UAE government portal u.ae lists airlines such as Emirates, Etihad and flydubai, licensed travel agents and hotels as sponsors, with conditions: you fly with the airline, or you buy the ticket and keep a hotel reservation through the agent. UAE embassies do not issue tourist visas.
#4
Online through ICP or GDRFA Dubai
u.ae says applications can be made online through ICP or GDRFA Dubai. The National reported that eligible travellers can apply before the trip through the GDRFA Dubai website, ICP Smart Services or the ICP mobile app, with a processing time of 48 hours. Use only the official sites.
#5
The five-year multiple-entry tourist visa
According to u.ae, this visa allows 90 days on each visit, extendable by a further 90 days. It asks for a bank balance of US$4,000 or the equivalent over the last six months, health insurance valid in the UAE for 180 days, and a ticket for onward or return travel.
Dubai visa for Indian passport holders: the short answer
Indian passport holders who hold a qualifying visa, residence permit or green card get a visa on arrival; Indian nationals outside those categories need a tourist visa before flying. According to reports in Khaleej Times, The National and Gulf News, the qualifying documents come from the US, the UK and EU countries, and also from Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand and Canada. Family members travelling with the passport holder are covered in these reports. The passport must be valid for at least six months.
The visa on arrival is 14 days for AED 100, extendable once for another 14 days at AED 250, or 60 days for AED 250, as reported by Khaleej Times citing ICP. If you do not hold a qualifying visa or permit, you need a tourist visa arranged before you fly. The National says Indian nationals outside the visa-on-arrival categories need a tourist visa, plus return flight tickets and hotel bookings.
Rules and fees have been updated more than once since the scheme began, so treat every figure here as the last one we could confirm and check ICP, GDRFA Dubai or your airline within a week of travel. This is general information, not immigration advice. For the general list of nationalities and how the 30 and 90-day permits work, read Dubai visa on arrival: who qualifies.
Which route is yours
Look at what is in your passport and your wallet today, not at what you held in the past. An expired document does not count: Gulf News says expired documents are not accepted.
| If you hold | Route | Stay and fee as reported | What to do |
|---|---|---|---|
| A valid visa, residence permit or green card from the US, the UK or an EU country | Visa on arrival | 14 days, AED 100; or 60 days, AED 250 | Check six months of validity on the passport and the visa or permit |
| A valid visa, residence permit or green card from Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand or Canada | Visa on arrival | The same fees | Carry the original document, not only a photo |
| None of the above | A tourist visa before you fly | Set by the visa type and the channel | Apply through an airline, a licensed agent, a hotel or ICP and GDRFA Dubai |
| A long-term plan of repeat trips | Five-year multiple-entry tourist visa | 90 days per visit, extendable by 90 days | Prepare the bank balance, insurance and ticket |
Fees and categories are as reported by Khaleej Times, The National, Gulf News and u.ae; they can change, so check before you go.
Visa on arrival: conditions, stay and cost
Gulf News says the visa is issued at all UAE entry points, including the airports in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah, and that payment is made on arrival. Two checks matter more than anything else on the page.
First, the passport: it must be valid for at least six months from the day you arrive. Khaleej Times adds that the applicant's visa and passport must each be valid for at least six months. Second, the qualifying document must be current. An old US visa, an expired residence card or a permit that ends during the trip can be a reason to be refused at check-in, not only at passport control.
| Visa on arrival | Stay | Fee reported by Khaleej Times citing ICP | Extension |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry visa, 14 days | 14 days | AED 100 | Once, for 14 more days, AED 250 |
| Entry visa, 60 days | Up to 60 days | AED 250 | Not extendable, as Gulf News reported |
Some later travel articles list different fee breakdowns, including service charges, so we cannot say which total applies on the day you land. Check the fee on the ICP site.
On a 14-day visa, save the end date in your phone the day you land. The extension must be made before the visa expires, as Gulf News notes, so do not leave it to the last day. Overstaying brings daily fines and can cause problems at the next entry.
Applying before you fly: the e-visa route
If you do not qualify for arrival, or you simply want the approval in hand, apply through an official channel. The government portal u.ae says tourist visas can be arranged by airlines (it names Etihad, Emirates and flydubai, on condition that you fly with them), by licensed travel agents and hotels in the UAE (on condition that you buy the ticket through them or keep a hotel reservation), or online through ICP or GDRFA Dubai.
The National's explainer on the scheme listed these fees for applying online ahead of the trip: AED 250 through ICP, AED 253 through GDRFA Dubai with a processing time of 48 hours, and US$63 (AED 232) for Emirates passengers applying through the airline. Private agencies may charge more. The GDRFA Dubai application asks you to attach a copy of your passport and a photo. These figures were reported earlier, so confirm them on the official page before paying.
Two rules keep you safe. Pay only on the official sites or through your airline, and be sceptical of any page that asks for far more than these figures. And keep the approval on your phone and on paper, because airline staff check it at the check-in desk.
Documents to carry
Officers decide each entry, so be ready for questions at the counter. This is the list we would put in a folder:
- Passport valid for at least six months from arrival, with blank pages.
- The original qualifying visa, residence permit or green card, valid for the whole stay, and a copy.
- A return or onward ticket, saved on the phone and printed.
- A hotel booking or the address of your host. The National lists return tickets and hotel bookings for travellers who must arrange a visa.
- The visa approval if you applied in advance, on the phone and on paper.
- For the five-year visa: a bank balance of US$4,000 or the equivalent over the last six months, health insurance valid in the UAE for 180 days and a ticket for the onward journey, as u.ae states.
- A card or some cash, because payment on arrival is made at the airport; money in Dubai explains cards, cash and exchange.
Five mistakes to avoid
Most refusals come from small gaps. These are the ones to check:
- Assuming the category covers you. A visa on arrival depends on the document you hold today. Read the list of countries again before buying non-refundable tickets.
- Less than six months of validity on the passport or on the qualifying visa.
- Relying on an old or expired document because the stamp is still in the passport.
- Paying an unofficial website. Use ICP, GDRFA Dubai, your airline or a licensed agent.
- Leaving the extension to the last day on a 14-day stay.
If you change planes in Dubai and want to leave the airport on a long layover, the rules for your passport apply to that too. Check can you leave the airport on a layover before you plan a city trip between flights.
After you land: the first days
Immigration queues vary by the hour, so avoid fixed-time bookings close to landing. Dubai airport arrival, immigration and smart gates walks through the arrival step by step, and SIM cards at Dubai airport covers getting online.
Many Indian guests include the Hindu temples in their plans: the BAPS Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi guide has hours, dress code and registration, and our Abu Dhabi city tour stops there with the Grand Mosque. It is $45 per person shared and needs no prepayment, as is our full-day desert safari from $45, so both fit around a visa date that is still settling. Keep your passport with you on tour days; several tours ask for it.
FAQ
Can Indian passport holders get a visa on arrival in Dubai?
Yes, if they hold a valid visa, residence permit or green card from the US, the UK or an EU country, or from Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand or Canada. The fee for a 14-day visa is AED 100, per Khaleej Times citing ICP. The passport must be valid for at least six months.
How long can I stay on the Indian visa on arrival?
The entry visa is 14 days, extendable once for another 14 days at AED 250. A 60-day visa costs AED 250, and Gulf News reported that it cannot be extended. Save the end date in your phone, and extend before the visa expires.
Do I need a US visa to get a Dubai visa on arrival?
Not only a US visa. Reports name qualifying documents from the US, the UK, EU countries, Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand and Canada. The document must be valid; Gulf News says expired documents are not accepted.
How do I get a Dubai visa if I do not qualify for arrival?
Apply before you fly, through an airline such as Emirates, Etihad or flydubai, a licensed travel agent, a UAE hotel, or online through ICP or GDRFA Dubai, as u.ae describes. UAE embassies do not issue tourist visas. Expect to show a return ticket and a hotel booking.
How much does a Dubai e-visa cost for Indian citizens?
The National reported AED 250 through ICP, AED 253 through GDRFA Dubai with a 48-hour processing time, and US$63 (AED 232) through Emirates. Agencies may charge more, and fees change, so check the official page before you pay.
What documents do I need for Dubai as an Indian citizen?
A passport valid for at least six months, the original qualifying visa or permit if you use arrival, or the approval if you applied, a return ticket and a hotel booking. The GDRFA Dubai application also asks for a passport copy and a photo.
Is there a five-year tourist visa for Dubai?
Yes. u.ae describes a multiple-entry tourist visa with 90 days on each visit, extendable by a further 90 days. It asks for a bank balance of US$4,000 or equivalent over six months, health insurance valid for 180 days and a return or onward ticket.
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