UAE Tourist Visa 2025 Guide: The best trip of a lifetime is just around the corner

Planning a trip to the UAE in 2025? You are in for a lot of benefits, grand gestures and incredible surprises, such as the most luxurious hotels letting their guests take a sneek peak of Burj Khalifa, the best restaurants flaunting an authentic take on global cuisines, the best beach clubs for memorable experiences by the sea and the most scenic and cost neighbourhoods for the best in street food, shopping and entertainment.

This is the complete guide to know everything about UAE Tourist Visa, featuring detailed insights into how to apply a UAE tourist visa, Types of UAE Tourist Visa, documents required for UAE Tourist Visa, UAE Visa on arrival, UAE Tourist Visa Cost and all that a tourist planning an UAE trip might be looking for.

You can get an idea about if you actually need a visa to enter the UAE, the perks of getting a UAE tourist visa, the necessary documentation, UAE tourist visa charges and processing time, tracking UAE tourist visa and tips to protect yourself from visa fraud. Let’s get started, then?

UAE Tourist Visa 2025 Types and Cost:

Let’s handle things one step at a time. In 2025, you can find a number of different UAE Tourist Visas meant to accommodate the different requirements of people from across the globe. Make sure to check the eligibility for each of these visas.

1. UAE single-entry tourist visa – meant for 30 days or 60 days

2. UAE multiple-entry tourist visa – meant for 30 days or 60 days

3. UAE multiple-entry tourist visa for a longer period – meant for 5 years

4. UAE visa on arrival – meant for 30 days or 90 days

5. UAE visa on arrival for Indians (these applicants need to be holding a visit visa issued by the US, a Green Card issued by the US or a visit visa or residence permit from the UK or the EU)

6. UAE eVisa for GCC residents

7. UAE transit visa – meant for 48 hours or 96 hours

Tourist Visa is required to enter the UAE?

It is time to address the elephant in the room. Citizens of other Gulf Cooperation Council countries, such as Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Oman, do not need a visa to enter the UAE. People from some other countries can apply for a UAE visa on arrival. But for other nationalities, the UAE has made it mandatory to apply for a visa prior to getting to the airport for that trip.

If the UAE Tourist Visa is taken into consideration, it is meant for people not eligible for visa-free or visa on arrival to the UAE. You can apply for a tourist visa through different travel agencies, hotels in Dubai, Sharjah and more Emirates, and airlines like Emirates and Etihad.

There are some things to keep in mind, such as:

a. UAE Visa free entry for GCC Citizens: Citizens of GCC countries do not need a visa to enter the UAE. But GCC residence permit holders need to apply for a visa before landing in Dubai.

B. Free UAE Visit Visa: Citizens of Brunei, Hong Kong, Mauritius, Uzbekistan, Malaysia, Mongolia, Republic of Ireland, Ukraine and more are eligible for a 30-day UAE visit visa free of charge. You just need to get off your flight at the airport and proceed to immigration for your passport to get stamped.

c. UAE 90-day multiple-entry visit visa: Citizens of Argentina, Austria, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, Denmark, Estonia, Iceland, Honduras, Italy, Japan, Israel, Germany, the Netherlands, Paraguay, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Singapore, South Korea, UK and Northern Ireland, US and more are eligible for a 90-day UAE multiple-entry visit visa. This visa is valid for six months from the date of issuance. You can stay for a total of 90 days.

UAE Tourist Visa Eligibility and Documents required:

It has already been mentioned that the UAE is offering different tourist visas for people from different countries. You can find single-entry and multiple-entry visas (valid for days or years). Some of the most commonly needed documents are:

a. Recent passport photograph

b. Passport or travel document (validity should not be less than 6 months)

c. Travel and health insurance

d. National identity card (applicable for certain nationalities)

e. Travel ticket as proof for further journey

f. In case of transit visas, the travel ticket needs to be less than 96 hours of landing in the UAE

g. Copy of residence permit for GCC residents (GCC citizens do not need a visa to enter the UAE)

h. Indian nationals seeking a UAE visa on arrival, present a permanent residence card (Green Card) issued by the US, a visit visa from the US or a residence/visit visa issued by the UK or EU

How to Apply 5 Year UAE multiple-entry tourist visa:

These are some of the most commonly needed documents. You might be required to present a handful of additional documentation. Once all the documents are sorted out, apply through an authorised agency, such as a tour company, an airline or a booked hotel.

In case of the UAE multiple-entry tourist visa applicable for 5 years, a person can enter the UAE more than once on self-sponsorship and remain in the country for a period of 90 days during each visit (extendable for an additional 90 days). This type of tourist visa can be issued for people from all countries in different continents.

The applicant needs to have a bank balance of $4,000 or its equivalent in foreign currencies during the last six months. It is also important for the applicant to keep a valid health insurance policy that can be used in the UAE. Next, a ticket to and from the UAE and lastly, a proof of accommodation in the UAE (hotel or residential address is enough).

Some of the documents required to apply for this type of visa are a coloured photograph, a copy of your passport, medical insurance, bank statement for the last six months, tour programme and a ticket as proof for further journey.

UAE Tourist Visas through hotels and travel agencies

There are a number of licensed travel agencies in UAE and hotels in Dubai, Sharjah and other areas capable of arranging tourist visas for you. But you need to purchase the ticket through them and maintain hotel bookings at the specific property.

Check the authenticity of the travel agents or hotels you are contacting for a UAE tourist visa. Refrain from sending copies of your official documents or paying any amount until you are 100% sure that the operator is genuine. You can ask the UAE Embassy in your country for help.

Apply UAE Tourist Visa in Emirates, Fly Dubai, Air Arabia and Etihad

You can also apply for a UAE tourist visa through airlines, such as Emirates, flydubai, Etihad and Air Arabia. Each airline has some conditions, including that you must use their flights for your trip. Let me take you through the details.

Please keep in mind that the tourist visa is for those people that are not eligible for the UAE visa on arrival or visa-free entry to the country. You can apply for this visa through airlines (apart from hotels and tour companies).

a. Emirates UAE Tourist visa – Types, Fees and How to Apply

Emirates also handles UAE transit visas for 48 hours and 96 hours. These visas cannot be extended. You need to pay $10 for 48-hour visa and $49 for the other one. Both of these visas are valid for 30 days from issue date (validity before entry).

For extensions, original passport and ticket copy are required. You can apply for extensions at the airport office. Your passport also needs to be valid for at least six months. The documents need to be submitted as hard copy. You might be required to present additional proof.

Depending on your country of residence, you might be required to present additional documents to apply for the UAE Tourist Visa. For people of Iraq, Pakistan and Iran, National ID Card is also necessary to be presented.

For more details on Emirates visa services: Click Here

b. How to Apply UAE tourist Visa through Fly Dubai

Based in Dubai, flydubai is one of the most reputable international airlines. If you need a UAE tourist visa or you need to apply for it as a UAE resident on behalf of a family member, relative or friend, contact flydubai travel shops for all the details.

Please keep in mind that only selected flydubai travel shops can help you in your UAE visa applications. These travel shops are located in a number of different places across the country, including Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, Ras al Khaimah and Sharjah.

flydubai can arrange different UAE tourist visas for you and your loved ones. The visas can be extended for a couple of times (not the transit visas). Each extension permits a stay for an additional 30 days (not exiting the country).

For more details on flydubai visa services: Click Here

You can also rely on Etihad visa services and Air Arabia visa services to ensure an entry into the UAE. The first airline has its home base in Abu Dhabi and the second one’s is in Sharjah. These airlines seamlessly connect to different parts of the globe, catering to the needs of tens of thousands of passengers each year.

How long it will take to get UAE Tourist Visa:

There are different UAE Tourist Visas. Some permit multiple entries and others are for a single entry only. You need to arrange a set of documents before applying for the visa, including passport or travel document, health insurance, national identity card for certain nationalities, GCC residence permit copy, travel ticket and more.

Collect these documents and apply for the visa through an authorised agency, such as tour companies, airlines or hotels. Processing time varies depending on the type of visa. But it takes approximately 48 hours for the visa to be issued.

How to Track UAE Tourist Visa Application?

In order to track UAE tourist visa application, you need an application number and a reference number. You can get both of these figures from your visa service provider. For Dubai, click on this link to track your visa application and its validity. For the other six Emirates, click on this link for all the details about your application.

Tips to stay safe from visa fraud in UAE

There are multiple things to keep in mind before applying for a UAE visa (not just for tourism but for jobs, businesses and other reasons). First of all, if someone is offering you a job in the UAE, that person needs to get you an offer letter issued by the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE).

Please remember that visit or tourist visas do not permit you to hold a job in the UAE. Tourist visas are issued by different airlines in the UAE, such as Emirates, flydubai, Etihad and Air Arabia. You can also ask different hotels and travel agencies in the UAE to make proper visa arrangements for you. It is a simple procedure but meticulous preparations are necessary.

UAE Tourist Visa guide: Frequently asked questions

1. Do I need a visa to enter the UAE?

Citizens of other Gulf countries, such as Bahrain, Oman and Saudi Arabia, are not required to apply for a UAE tourist visa. People of some other countries can also get off their flight after landing and head straight for immigration at the airport to get their passports stamped.

Citizens of Brunei, Hong Kong, Kazakhstan, Monaco, Mongolia, Mauritius, Ukraine and more get a free UAE visit visa valid for 30 days. If you are from Argentina, Australia, Canada, Costa Rica, Brazil, Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Japan, the Netherlands, Romania, Spain, the UK, the US or from some other countries, you can get a 90-day visit visa permitting multiple entries.

There is also a 180-day UAE visit visa. People holding a Mexican passport are eligible for a multiple-entry visit visa that is valid for six months from the date of issue and for a stay of 180 days in the UAE in total.

2. How to apply for a UAE tourist visa?

Please keep in mind that you can apply for a tourist visa to enter the UAE through proper travel agencies in the country, airlines such as Emirates and Etihad, and hotels in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ras al Khaimah and other areas.

It is important that you check that the tour company is authentic and genuine before sending across any official documents or making any payments. You can ask the UAE Embassy or Consulate in your home country for assistance in such situations.

Each airline has a different procedure to arrange your UAE tourist visa. Both single-entry and multiple-entry tourist visas (for different durations) can be extended for an additional charge. But the same cannot be expected for UAE transit visas.

3. What is the validity period of my UAE Tourist Visa?

For each UAE Tourist Visa, the validity period is different. For example, your single-entry 30-day visa is valid for 60 days from issue date before entry and 30 days from the date of landing in the UAE after entry. You can check this article for all the details.

For multiple-entry 60-day tourist visas, the validity period before entry is 60 days from issue date and the validity period after entry is 60 days from the date of first entry into the UAE. These tourist visas can be easily extended for an additional charge at the airport office.

4. What are some of the common documents required for UAE Tourist Visa applications?

Each type of UAE Tourist Visa has a different set of requirements. But some of the most commonly needed documents are a recent passport photograph, valid passport or travel document, national identity card for some nationalities, copy of GCC residence permit, valid health insurance, travel ticket as proof of further journey, and more.

5. What is the maximum amount of time I can stay in the UAE on a tourist visa?

There is a lot to see and do in the UAE and it absolutely makes sense if you seek a longer stay in the country. One of the most important types of UAE Tourist Visa is the multiple-entry 5-year visa. It is valid for 5 years.

You get multiple entries into the UAE on this visa. You can remain in the country for 90 days on each visit (extendable for further 90 days). This type of tourist visa can be issued for all nationalities. But there is a set of eligibility requirements.

First of all, you need a bank balance of $4,000 or its equivalent in foreign currencies during the last six months. There is also a need for a valid health insurance policy applicable in the UAE, ticket and proof of accommodation in the country, among other details.

6. Can I stay in the UAE visa free?

This is not possible and not encouraged. You need to extend your UAE tourist visa or entry permit in order to be able to stay for a longer duration in the country. People overstaying their visa could face serious penalties.

Here is an example. Emirates passengers seeking to extend their single-entry or multiple-entry UAE tourist visas for 30 days or 60 days need to pay $230 for the process. They also need to present their original passport and a ticket copy. Extensions are done at the airport office only.

7. Do Schengen visa holders need a visa for the UAE?

People holding a Schengen region passport can get a UAE visa on arrival. But those holding a Schengen visa at the moment need to check if they actually require a visa to enter the UAE (it all depends on their nationality). Indians holding a Schengen residence visa are eligible for a UAE visa on arrival. Find more details on the official platforms.

8. Do US citizens need a visa to enter the UAE?

Citizens of the US are eligible for a UAE visa on arrival. You just need to get off the flight and head for the immigration section at the airport to get your passport stamped. This is a UAE multiple-entry 90-day visit visa that is valid for six months from the date of issue. You can stay in the UAE for a total of 90 days.

9. Do I need a Transit Visa for 2-8 hours in Dubai?

It is understandable to seek a UAE transit visa for 2-8 hours at Dubai International (DXB). Dubai is one of the most happening destinations in 2025, continuing to break numerous records. But transit visas are issued if your stop lasts more than 8 hours and less than 96 hours.

For people getting a connecting flight in Dubai in 2-8 hours, the Dubai airport has a number of different facilities, including multiple lounges and restaurants for a comfortable experience. You can also indulge in a shopping spree at the airport.

You can use our guide to better plan a trip around Dubai in less number of hours. The UAE grants a couple of types of transit visas, including one valid for 48 hours and the other for 96 hours. Neither of these visas can be extended.

In a nutshell

Hope this UAE Tourist Visa 2025 guide has been helpful in arranging the required documents and getting them across the right channels to apply. The UAE is a beautiful country to explore and the Emirati leadership is absolutely thrilled to make the country more accessible and friendlier for all its tourists from different parts of the globe.

It is important to look for the right type of UAE Tourist Visa to better accommodate your needs. There are multiple airlines, hotels and travel agencies in the UAE specialising in arranging these Tourist Visas for their clients. Make sure to verify the authenticity of the tour company and hotel before sending any documents or making any financial transactions.

The UAE is one of the top tourist destinations today, famous for its broad range of offerings, such as the glitz and glamour of Dubai, natural beauty of Abu Dhabi, cultural attractions in Sharjah, memorable museums in Sharjah, rich history of Ajman, scenic beaches of Fujairah, and rich coastal mangroves of Umm Al Quwain.

Happy exploring!