Dubai Visa Types 2026 - Tourist, Visit, Transit & Fees Guide

Choosing the right Dubai visitor visa types is an important first step. Your passport matters. Your trip purpose matters too. Stay length and number of UAE entries also affect the choice.

The main 2026 routes include 30-day and 60-day tourist visas. Other options include transit, five-year, GCC resident, family, job and business visit routes.

Dubai Visitor Visa Types at a Glance

The UAE has several visitor routes. Each one serves a different trip. The table below shows the main options.

This is a practical visitor guide, not a list of every specialist UAE entry permit. Medical, work-mission and other sector-specific routes have separate rules.

1. 30-Day Single-Entry Tourist Visa

This is a common short-stay option. It suits one UAE entry and a trip of up to 30 days.

GDRFA lists the fee as AED 252 + 5% VAT. An approved tourism business handles this tourist route.

The main GDRFA list asks for a photo and passport copy. Iraq, Pakistan, Iran and Afghanistan applicants also need the listed national ID.

See our 30-Day Single-Entry Dubai Visa page for this product.

2. 60-Day Single-Entry Tourist Visa

Choose 60 days when 30 days is too short. It suits a longer holiday or family trip.

GDRFA currently lists the government visa fee as AED 352 + 5% VAT. The same basic tourist document route applies.

Do not use a 60-day visa for job search simply because the stay is longer. If job exploration is the real purpose, check the dedicated job-exploration route.

See our 60-Day Single-Entry Dubai Visa page for the longer tourist option.

3. 30-Day and 60-Day Multi-Entry Tourist Visas

Choose multi-entry if you will leave the UAE and come back. For example, you may visit Dubai, go to Oman, then return.

GDRFA currently lists AED 300 + 5% VAT for the 30-day multi-entry tourist visa and AED 500 + 5% VAT for the 60-day version.

Count UAE entries, not total flights. If you enter Dubai once and stay inside the UAE for the whole trip, single entry is usually enough.

You can verify the current tourist fees on the official GDRFA multi-entry tourist visa service.

Single Entry vs Multi-Entry

Single entry is for one UAE entry. After you leave, do not assume the same visa can be used again.

Multi-entry is for more than one UAE entry. It costs more. But it can suit a trip with a side visit.

Do not assume every re-entry creates a fresh full stay. Follow the dates and stay rules on the issued visa.

4. Five-Year Multi-Entry Tourist Visa

The five-year tourist visa is self-sponsored. It suits people who visit the UAE often.

GDRFA asks for a passport valid for at least six months. You also need a photo, six-month bank statement, health cover and return ticket.

ICP requires at least USD 4,000 or the equivalent in the required bank period. One stay can be up to 90 days. More time may be approved. The yearly total must stay within 180 days.

The visa year is counted from the first UAE entry, not from 1 January. Unused days do not automatically carry into the next year.

GDRFA currently shows AED 3,713.50 as the total shown on its page. That total includes a financial guarantee and service charges. It is not one simple visa fee.

See our UAE 5-Year Multiple-Entry Tourist Visa Guide for the full fee breakdown and stay rules.

5. 48-Hour and 96-Hour Transit Visas

The UAE has two main transit visas: 48 hours and 96 hours. Both are single entry. Neither can be extended.

The UAE Government says UAE airlines sponsor transit visas. They must be arranged before entry. They suit stopovers when you want to leave the airport.

If you can enter visa-free or on arrival, you may not need a transit visa. Staying inside the airport can also change the rule.

Do not use old third-party USD prices as fixed transit-visa fees. Check the airline or approved issuing channel that is handling the stopover.

6. Visa-Free Entry and Visa on Arrival

Visa on arrival is not a pre-arranged tourist visa. Travellers who qualify get the entry route when they arrive.

The stay length depends on the passport. Some travellers can also use a foreign residence route.

In June 2026, ICP widened a special route. It covers some travellers from India, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines, Kenya and South Africa. A qualifying foreign residence permit is also needed.

Check your passport before buying any advance visa. The official UAE Government provides current guidance on whether you need a UAE visa before travel.

7. Entry Visa for GCC Residents

This route is for expats who qualify and live in Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain or Kuwait. It is not for GCC citizens.

GDRFA allows up to 30 days. The visa can be extended once. The passport needs six months. GCC residence needs at least one year.

The profession is also checked. The fee is AED 250 + 5% VAT.

GDRFA lists 48 hours as the expected time. The service is online.

A GCC residence permit does not replace the passport check. Some GCC residents may already qualify for another UAE entry route through their nationality.

8. Relative or Friend Visit Visa

A family or friend visit visa is different from a tourist visa. Current options include 30, 60 or 90 days.

You may need proof of the relationship or visit reason. Host income rules can also apply.

Current rules use different host income levels for close relatives, other relatives and friends.

Do not use the relative/friend sponsor checklist for an ordinary tourism-company tourist visa. They are different visa routes.

9. Job-Exploration Visa

The job-exploration visa is for job seekers who meet the rules. Current options are 60, 90 and 120 days.

This route does not need a normal UAE sponsor. But strict eligibility rules still apply.

ICP checks skill or graduate rules. Passport and health-cover rules also apply.

A tourist visa does not give permission to work. If you receive a job offer, the legal work and residence process must be completed before starting employment.

10. Business-Opportunity Exploration Visa

This is the route to check for business or investment research. Do not label every short business trip as a generic “14-day business visa.”

GDRFA offers 60, 90 and 120 days. It can be single or multi-entry. No UAE sponsor or host is required.

You need a passport with at least six months left. A photo and proof of the planned business activity are also needed.

Current base fees are AED 200 for 60 days, AED 300 for 90 days and AED 400 for 120 days. VAT, guarantee and service charges are separate.

11. Study or Training Visit Visa

The UAE also has a visit route for study or training. A licensed school, institute or research body must host the visitor.

GDRFA offers 30, 60 and 180 days. A letter from the study or training body is needed.

This is not a full student residence permit. Use it only for a visit that fits the study or training rules.

Dubai Visitor Visa Types and Current Government Fees

When comparing Dubai visitor visa types, the table uses current AED authority fees. It does not use fixed USD or INR prices. Exchange rates and private service fees can change.

Government fee and final checkout price are not always the same thing. A private visa service may add document review, support, payment or other service charges.

Documents Required for the Main Tourist Visas

For standard 30-day and 60-day tourist visas, the main document list is fairly short.

• Personal photo.
• Passport copy.
• National identity card for listed applicants from Iraq, Pakistan, Iran and Afghanistan.
• Passport validity of at least six months under the current terms.
• Ticket to continue the trip or leave the UAE.
• Medical insurance valid in the UAE.

Do not add a universal bank-statement rule to every short tourist visa. The six-month bank-statement requirement belongs to the five-year tourist visa route, not the basic 30/60-day tourist checklist.

How to Choose the Right Dubai Visitor Visa Types

1. Check your passport first. You may already qualify for visa-free entry or visa on arrival.
2. Define the real travel purpose. Tourism, family visit, job search and business exploration are different.
3. Count the stay days. Choose 30 or 60 days for a normal tourist trip.
4. Count UAE entries. Choose multi-entry only if you will leave and return.
5. Check special status. GCC residence or qualifying foreign residence may open another route.
6. Compare UAE authority fees.
7. Read the document list for that exact visa.
8. Leave enough time before travel.

Processing Time for Dubai Visitor Visas

The old page used 3–5 working days as a normal rule. Current GDRFA tourist services instead show a 48-hour expected time.

GDRFA lists 48 hours as the expected time for standard tourist visas and the GCC-resident visa.

48 hours is an expected service time, not a guaranteed approval promise. Missing documents, poor scans, data errors or extra review can take longer.

Apply with enough time for corrections. Do not build a non-refundable trip around an exact approval hour.

Can Tourist Visas Be Extended?

Current GDRFA services allow tourist visa extensions when the authority approves them.

GDRFA lists AED 600 + 5% VAT for an extension. Extra in-country fees can apply.

The tourist visa can be extended more than once. The total stay must not go above 120 days.

See our Dubai Visa Extension Guide for the current process.

Overstay Rules

ICP lists an overstay fine of AED 50 per day.

The fine starts after any grace period that applies to that visa.

Do not use a blanket “there is never a grace period” statement. The rule depends on the visa type. Use the UAE record for your case.

Common Dubai Visitor Visa Type Mistakes

• Buying a tourist visa before checking visa-on-arrival eligibility.
• Choosing single entry when the itinerary includes a UAE re-entry.
• Using a tourist visa when the main purpose is job exploration.
• Using an old “14-day business visa” label instead of checking the current business route.
• Copying the five-year bank rule into every 30-day or 60-day tourist visa.
• Using guessed USD or INR prices as fixed government fees.
• Assuming every visa has the same extension or grace-period rule.

The safest method is simple. Choose the visa from the trip purpose. Then check the latest UAE rule.

One Short Trip

Suppose you plan ten days in Dubai. You will enter once and fly home from Dubai.

If your passport needs a visa before travel, the 30-day single-entry tourist visa may fit well.

You do not need multi-entry for one UAE entry.

Dubai and Oman Trip

Suppose you enter Dubai, travel to Oman, then return to Dubai.

You now have two UAE entries. A multi-entry tourist visa may fit better than a single-entry visa.

Count UAE entries, not the total number of flights.

Frequent UAE Trips

Suppose you visit the UAE several times each year. Applying for a short tourist visa before every trip may be inconvenient.

The five-year tourist visa may be worth comparing if you meet its bank, insurance and other rules.

Check the full fee and financial guarantee before choosing it.

Job Search Trip

Suppose your main goal is to look for work. A longer tourist visa is not always the right answer.

Check the job-exploration visa first. It is made for eligible job seekers and has its own rules.

Do not start work while you are still on visitor status.

Family Visit Trip

Suppose you are visiting a relative who lives in the UAE. You may have more than one possible route.

Compare the tourist visa with the relative or friend visit visa. The sponsor papers and fees are not the same.

Choose the route that matches the real reason for the visit.

Before You Pay for Any Visa

• Check the passport rule.
• Check the real trip purpose.
• Check how long you will stay.
• Check how many times you will enter the UAE.
• Check the UAE AED fee.
• Check any private service charge.
• Read the refund terms.

Check first, then pay. This is the easiest way to avoid the wrong visa.

First Dubai Trip

You plan a seven-day Dubai trip. You will enter the UAE once. You will fly home from Dubai.

If your passport needs a visa, the 30-day single-entry tourist visa may fit. It gives more than enough time for the trip.

Do not pay for multi-entry when you only need one entry.

Two UAE Entries

You plan Dubai first. Then you travel to Oman. After that, you return to Dubai.

This trip uses two UAE entries. A multi-entry tourist visa may fit better.

Write the trip on paper if needed. Mark each UAE entry. This makes the choice easy.

GCC Resident Trip

You hold an Indian passport and live in Saudi Arabia. Your Saudi residence permit is still valid for more than one year.

Do not choose a normal tourist visa first. Check the GCC-resident route and your passport rule.

You may have more than one valid option. Compare them before you pay.

Family Visit

You want to stay with a relative in Dubai. Your trip is mainly a family visit.

Compare the family or friend visit route with the normal tourist route. The sponsor papers are different.

Use the route that matches the real reason for travel.

Business Research Trip

You want to visit Dubai to study a new business idea. You are not coming for a normal holiday.

Check the business-opportunity visa. Current options include 60, 90 and 120 days.

Do not use an old “14-day business visa” label without checking the current route.

What to Save After You Apply

Save the case number. Save the payment receipt. Keep the passport copy used for the form.

When the visa arrives, save it on your phone. Keep another copy in email or cloud storage.

Check your name, passport number and dates before travel.

Quick Check Before You Book

Write down your trip in plain steps. Note the day you land. Note the day you leave. Mark each time you will enter the UAE.

Then check your passport rule. If you can enter on arrival, you may not need to buy a visa first.

If you do need a visa, pick the stay that fits the trip. Use single entry for one UAE entry. Use multi-entry only when you will leave and come back.

Keep the plan simple. The right visa should match the trip you will take, not a trip you might take.

If Your Travel Plan Changes

Check the visa again when your plan changes. A new flight date can affect the visa dates. A new side trip can change the entry type you need.

Do not buy a second visa at once. First ask if the old visa can still be used.

Check the new plan before you pay again.

Final Dubai Visitor Visa Types Checklist

Before choosing: check passport rule, travel purpose, stay length and entry count.

Before paying: separate the official UAE fee from any private service charge. Check the refund terms too.

Before travel: check the issued visa, passport number, last-entry date and stay rules.

If plans change: check whether the existing visa still fits before buying another visa.

Choose the Right Dubai Visitor Visa Types

The best Dubai visitor visa types depend on the real trip. A short holiday may fit 30 days. A longer trip may need 60 days. Other travellers can use five-year, GCC, job, business or family routes.

Do not choose from an old fee table. Use UAE rules for the exact visa you need.

Last reviewed: 25 August 2026. UAE visa fees, stay periods, nationality rules and extension conditions can change.