Author: 
Planning a trip to Dubai or the broader UAE soon? There are a lot of things to consider in the planning process, especially the UAE visa scene. There are different types of tourist visas to accommodate different needs, depending on one’s eligibility.
Nonetheless, there are fines if someone stays in the country beyond the limit of the UAE tourist visa. Before applying for any visa, analyse the specific requirements and ensure all necessary documents are in order. This article is a guide to the UAE transit visa.
Your reliable UAE tourist visa guide
The UAE offers at least 7 different types of tourist visas to accommodate the different requirements of visitors. There are:
1. Single-entry tourist visa valid for 30 days or 60 days
2. Multiple-entry tourist visa valid for 30 days or 60 days
3. Multiple-entry long-term tourist visa valid for 5 years
4. Transit visa
5. Visa on arrival for 30 days or 90 days contingent on nationality
6. Visa on arrival for Indians holding a visit visa issued by the US, or a Green Card issued by the US, or a visit visa/residence permit issued by the EU or the UK
7. e-Visa for residents of GCC countries
2025 tourist guide to UAE Transit Visa
The UAE issues a couple of types of transit visas – one for 48 hours and the other for 96 hours. Transit visas are sponsored by Emirati airlines and need to be processed and approved before entering the country.
UAE transit visa eligibility
Before looking into the idea of a transit visa, it is important to understand if a person actually needs a visa for the UAE. For example, if a passport holder is eligible for a 30-day visa on arrival, no advance visa arrangements are required.
If a passport holder is eligible for a 90-day visa on arrival, he or she can simply proceed to immigration after landing at an airport and get their passport stamped for a multiple-entry 90-day visit visa that is valid for 6 months and a stay of 90 days.
There is also a 180-day UAE visa on arrival option. Mexican passport holders are eligible for a multiple-entry 180-day visit visa that is valid for 6 months from the date of issue and for a stay of 180 days in total.
Coming to the main question, do you need a UAE Transit Visa? If you are not one of the nationalities that are eligible for a visa on arrival or a visa-free entry to the UAE, then you need a Transit Visa of 48 hours or 96 hours to enter the country.
UAE transit visa duration
The UAE Transit Visa is issued either for 48 hours or for 96 hours. Both of these transit visas are non-extendable and once a 48 hours visa has been issued, it cannot be extended to 96 hours. Let us get into the details.
1. UAE Transit Visa for 48 hours
Transit visas for 48 hours are issued free of charge (although it is better to check the rates at each airline’s official platform) to passengers transiting through airports across the UAE. One needs to apply for this visa in advance through a UAE-based airline.
This visa is non-extendable. The validity of the visa is 48 hours from entry into the UAE. To get a transit visa for 48 hours, a person needs to hold a passport or travel document valid for at least three months, a photograph, and a ticket booking to the third destination.
2. UAE Transit Visa for 96 hours
The UAE issues transit visas for 96 hours against a fee of Dh50 to passport holders transiting through airports in the country. You need to apply for this type of transit visa through an Emirati airline in advance.
The 96-hour visa is not extendable, just like the one valid for 48 hours. This transit visa is valid for 96 hours from entry into the UAE and one must leave the country before the visa expires. The requirements to apply for this visa are the same as its 48-hour counterpart.
There is a procedure to extend a UAE tourist visa for a single or multiple trips. But this process is not applicable for transit visas as they remain non-extendable. Furthermore, a departure fee of Dh30 is levied on each passenger transiting through UAE airports.
UAE tourist visa requirements and application
The UAE issues at least 7 different types of tourist visas, including transit visas. Each visa type has its separate requirements for documents that need to be submitted. But some of the most commonly needed documents include,
1. Recent passport photograph
2. Passport or travel document valid for at least six months
3. Valid health insurance
4. National identity card in the case of certain nationalities
5. Travel ticket for the next journey. In case of transit visa, this should be in less than 96 hours of landing in the country
Only the UAE-based airlines can arrange transit visas for their passengers prior to their journey. If a person has booked through a travel agency, the agency can also help in getting the visa. But all visas are routed through the airline.
Connecting flights in Dubai for transit passengers
Dubai International airport is one of the busiest airports globally, handling close to 90 million passengers per year. Being a major international transfer hub, DXB manages thousands of transit passengers per day.
The process starts from finding the right transfer desk. Dubai International has three terminals: Terminal 1, Terminal 2 and Terminal 3. Terminal 1 and 3 are located in close proximity to each other. But getting to Terminal 2 could be a little tricky.
The baggage transfer scene could also be different for different transit passengers. Passengers not holding a Dubai visa and transiting through the airport on separate tickets are likely to require help in baggage transfer. This is the ultimate guide.
Tourist guide to UAE Transit Visa: FAQs
1. Is Dubai airport conducting random eye screening?
Immigration authorities at Dubai International are conducting random eye screening for an added security measure. Passengers asked to proceed for eye screening need to present a hard copy of their visa or a printed version of the visa number confirmation page.
2. Can my UAE Transit Visa of 48 hours be extended to 96 hours?
This is not possible. The UAE issues transit visas of 48 hours and 96 hours, and both of these visas are non-extendable. Furthermore, once a 48-hour transit visa is issued, it cannot be extended to 96 hours.
3. Is there a list of documents needed to get a UAE Transit Visa?
There is one. To get a UAE Transit Visa either for 48 hours or 96 hours, you need:
– a passport or travel document valid for at least three months
– a photograph
– a ticket booking to a third destination, other than the one you are coming from
Don't miss out on the Latest Updates! Join our official
WhatsApp channel and follow us on
YouTube,
Instagram,
Facebook,
Twitter, and
TikTok for Breaking News.
Send your press releases to: pressrelease@traveltodubai.com
Follow Us