Many nationalities need no visa in advance for Dubai: they receive an entry permit at passport control, usually for 30 or 90 days depending on the passport. The UK, the US, Canada, Australia, Japan and most EU passports are on the list, but lists change and other passports must apply before flying. Your passport should be valid for at least six months. This guide explains who qualifies, how long you can stay, what to carry, and where to check officially.
By SB Excursions · Published 29 October 2026 · Updated 29 October 2026
While you are in Dubai: Full-Day Desert Safari in Dubai — From $45 per person, 7 hours.
Who gets a visa on arrival in Dubai?
Passport holders from a list of countries, which includes the UK, the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and most EU states, get an entry permit at passport control, usually for 30 or 90 days. Your passport should be valid for at least six months. The list changes, so check ICP, GDRFA Dubai or your airline before you fly.
This guide also answers:
- How long can I stay on a visa on arrival?
- Do UK and US citizens need a visa for Dubai?
- Do I need a visa for a layover in Dubai?
Four ways into Dubai
#1
Visa on arrival, 30 days
An entry permit issued at passport control, with no application before you fly. Thirty days is the length for many eligible passports and covers the usual week or two. Some permits can be extended for a fee, so ask the authorities before it runs out, not after. The permit is recorded at the desk, so keep your passport and bookings in your hand luggage, not in the hold.
#2
Visa on arrival, 90 days
Passports such as the UK, US, Canada, Australia and Japan were moved from 30 to 90 days in a recent update. Some are described as up to 90 days within a 180-day period, so a quick exit and return may not restart the count. Read the conditions for your own passport.
#3
A visa arranged before you fly
If your passport is not on the list, you need approval before boarding. Allow several working days, apply early, and keep the approval on your phone and on paper. Check the official source before you pay any website, because the airline will check your visa at check-in. Longer and multiple-entry tourist visas exist for frequent visitors, with their own requirements.
#4
Transit and long layovers
If you only change planes and stay inside the airport, you may not need a permit. If you want to leave for a few hours, check the rules for your passport first, then use our layover plan for 8, 12 or 24 hours. Your airline can confirm what applies.
Dubai visa on arrival: the short answer
If your passport is on the visa-on-arrival list, you need no visa before you fly. An immigration officer issues an entry permit at passport control in Dubai, usually for 30 or 90 days depending on the passport. The UK, the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and most EU countries are on the list. Many other passports are not, and those travellers must have a visa arranged before boarding.
Three checks matter more than any list on a website, including this one. Is your passport on the current list? Does it have at least six months of validity from the day you arrive? Will your airline accept it at check-in? The final word belongs to the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP), the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs in Dubai (GDRFA) and your airline. Rules can change at short notice, so check within a week of travel. This guide is general information, not immigration advice.
Where your passport probably sits
The table below groups passports the way the rules are usually described. It gives examples, not the full list, and the groups move from time to time, so look up your own passport on the official page.
| Passport | What happens | How long | What to do |
|---|---|---|---|
| Such as the UK, US, Canada, Australia, Japan | Entry permit on arrival, no application before you fly | Lengthened to 90 days in a recent update; check yours | Confirm the current rule; carry proof of onward travel |
| EU countries and many others | Entry permit on arrival | 30 or 90 days, depending on the passport | Look up your passport on the official list |
| Passports with conditions, for example Indian passports with a qualifying US, UK or EU visa or green card | A shorter permit on arrival, only if the conditions are met | Shorter than 30 days, about 14 days | Read the conditions and the validity of the qualifying visa |
| Passports not on the on-arrival list | A visa is needed before you board | Set by the type of visa you apply for | Apply through your airline, hotel, an agent or the official channels, early |
Examples, not a complete list. Lists and durations change; confirm on ICP, GDRFA Dubai or with your airline.
How long you can stay, and what an overstay means
On arrival you get a permit for the number of days your passport category allows. Count from the day of entry and save the end date in your phone. A 30-day permit covers a normal week or two, and 90 days suits a long stay. Some permits can be extended once for a fee, through ICP, GDRFA or a licensed typing centre, but the options depend on the passport, so ask before the permit runs out.
Read the wording on your permit. Some are described as up to 90 days within a 180-day period, which means leaving and re-entering does not always restart the count. Overstaying brings fines that build up daily and can cause problems at the next entry, so do not leave it to the last day.
Planning more than 90 days, or several trips close together? Tourist visas of other lengths exist, including multiple-entry options, each with its own requirements such as insurance and proof of funds. They are set and updated by ICP, so read the current page or ask your airline rather than relying on a blog, and apply well before you travel.
What to have ready at passport control
Officers decide each entry, so it helps to be ready:
- A passport valid for at least six months from the day you arrive, with blank pages for the stamp or entry record.
- A return or onward ticket; airlines and officers may ask for it.
- The name and address of your first hotel, or of your host.
- Your own passport for every child; check that names match the tickets.
- Bookings saved on your phone and on paper, in case the signal is weak.
- A bank card or some cash; the officer may ask about your plans and funds.
Queues vary by the hour and the day, and early-morning arrivals can be crowded. On arrival day, avoid fixed-time bookings close to your landing time, such as a yacht cruise or a Burj Khalifa slot, and plan the first full day after you have slept. Our full-day desert safari and Abu Dhabi city tour need no prepayment: you agree the date on WhatsApp and pay on the day, so they fit a day 2 well. Getting from the airport is covered in Dubai airport to Downtown and Dubai airport to Dubai Marina.
A checklist for the week before you fly
Rules are checked at the airline desk before they are checked at passport control, so do these a few days ahead rather than at the airport:
- Look up your passport on the official ICP page, or ask your airline which entry document it needs.
- Check the expiry date: six months from the day you land, with blank pages.
- Save your hotel booking, the address and your onward ticket on your phone and on paper.
- Take out travel insurance, and read bringing medication to Dubai if you carry prescriptions.
- Sort your phone: a local or eSIM plan is easier before landing, and SIM cards at Dubai airport compares the options.
- Decide how you will pay on arrival; money in Dubai covers cards, cash and ATMs.
If your passport is not on the list
A passport that is not on the on-arrival list needs a visa before boarding. The usual routes are through your airline, through your hotel, through a licensed travel agent, or directly through the official ICP or GDRFA Dubai services. Allow several working days, apply well before your flights, and keep a copy of the approval on your phone and on paper, because airline staff check it at check-in. Check the official source before paying any website for a visa.
If you only change planes in Dubai and stay airside, you may not need a permit. If you want to leave the airport on a long layover, check the rules for your passport first; the Dubai layover itinerary shows what fits in 8, 12 or 24 hours once you are cleared to leave.
Why you carry your passport on tour days
The permit is only half the story: several of our tours ask for a passport or an Emirates ID on the day, so keep yours with you rather than in the hotel safe. What each one needs:
- Marina yacht tours: an original passport or Emirates ID for every guest, as Coast Guard rules require; the 21+ yacht party also needs an original ID or passport to board.
- Jet ski and flyboard: an original passport or Emirates ID, a physical document and not a photo on your phone.
- Sunrise balloon: an original passport or ID, or a clear copy, for the flight manifest.
- Burj Khalifa tickets: a passport or ID, as the name on the booking may be checked at entry.
- Abu Dhabi city tour: a physical or digital copy of your passport or Emirates ID for the security check.
The details of each tour are on its page, and is Dubai safe for tourists and the money guide cover the rest of the first-day basics. If you carry prescription medicines, read bringing medication to Dubai before you pack.
FAQ
Who gets a visa on arrival in Dubai?
Passport holders from a list of countries, which includes the UK, the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and most EU states, get an entry permit at passport control, usually for 30 or 90 days. Your passport should be valid for at least six months. The list changes, so check ICP, GDRFA Dubai or your airline before you fly.
How long can I stay on a visa on arrival?
It depends on the passport: 30 days for many, and 90 days for others, including several that were lengthened in a recent update. Some permits can be extended for a fee. Some are described as up to 90 days within a 180-day period, so read the wording on your permit.
Do UK and US citizens need a visa for Dubai?
Not in advance. UK and US passports are on the visa-on-arrival list, and the permit is issued at passport control. The stay was lengthened to 90 days in a recent update, but check the current rule for your passport before you fly, and make sure the passport has six months of validity.
How many months must my passport be valid?
At least six months from the day you arrive in the UAE, and with blank pages for the stamp or entry record. Airlines may refuse boarding if the passport is too close to expiry, so check before you buy tickets.
What if my passport is not on the visa-on-arrival list?
You need a visa arranged before you board. Apply through your airline, your hotel, a licensed travel agent or the official ICP and GDRFA Dubai channels, allow several working days and keep the approval on your phone and on paper.
Do I need a visa for a layover in Dubai?
If you only change planes and stay inside the airport, you may not. If you want to leave the airport between flights, check the rules for your passport first. Your airline can confirm, and our layover itinerary shows what fits in 8, 12 or 24 hours.
Do I need my passport for tours and activities?
Often yes. Yacht tours, jet ski and flyboard need an original passport or Emirates ID, the balloon needs a passport or ID or a clear copy, Burj Khalifa tickets may check the name against your ID, and the Abu Dhabi tour asks for a copy for the security check.
Recommended Dubai tours for this guide
Full-Day Desert Safari in Dubai
It is the slow-travel version of the classic safari: more time on the dunes, sunset without the crowds and a full evening programme at a premium camp with air-conditioned tents, unlimited drinks and a large BBQ buffet with vegetarian and gluten-free options. Everything is arranged from the hotel door — a licensed English-speaking driver, the 4x4, the camp and the shows.
- Duration
- 7 hours
- Area
- Lahbab Desert, Dubai
- Format
- Full-day desert safari
- Best for
- families, couples and first-time desert visitors who want the full evening programme
From $45 per person No prepayment
View tour
Abu Dhabi City Tour from Dubai
It is the classic capital day in one organised loop: the mosque before the midday heat and crowds, the newly opened BAPS Mandir, the skyline from the Corniche, Bedouin history at Heritage Village and a photo op at Ferrari World. Transport, a licensed guide, mosque registration assistance and bottled water are included; the $45 shared tour covers all free-entry sites, and a private VIP car for up to 7 people is $245.
- Duration
- 9 hours
- Area
- Abu Dhabi, UAE
- Format
- Full-day guided city tour (shared or private)
- Best for
- families, seniors and first-time visitors who want the capital's landmarks in one day
From $45 per person No prepayment
View tour
Dubai Marina Shared Yacht Tour
It is the most stylish way to see the skyline without paying for a private charter: a premium yacht with spacious decks and 5-star hospitality, a red carpet at the pier and the crew helping with photos against JBR and Ain Dubai. Full pre-payment secures your slot — the hourly departures sell out — and the yacht leaves strictly on time.
- Duration
- 1 hour
- Area
- Dubai Marina
- Format
- Shared 1-hour sightseeing cruise
- Best for
- families, couples and anyone who wants the Marina skyline from the water without a private charter
From $32 per person Full prepayment
View tour