Is UK on your bucket list? If not yet, add it to your dream list as soon as possible. Starting from the beautiful London Eye, Big Ben and Natural History Museum to Edinburgh Castle, Scottish Highlands, Stonehenge and Roman Baths, there is a pretty long list of fun things to do in the UK all year round. Let’s not forget the Christmas markets, too, as they bring in some of the most indulgent delicacies and great community engagement opportunities for people from different parts of the globe. You need to take a look at this meticulously curated UK Visa for UAE citizens and residents guide to plan that most memorable trip of a lifetime.
Thousands of UAE citizens and residents take trips to the UK each year. You can find plenty of flights from Dubai to London and Edinburgh running at regular times, in addition to other parts of the UAE like Abu Dhabi and Sharjah. There is a step-by-step procedure for applying for the UK Visa for UAE citizens and residents. Let’s understand all of it, one step at a time.
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Do you need a UK Visa to enter for tourism purposes?
Please check the UK Visas and Immigration (GOV.UK) platform to check if you actually need a visa to enter the country. For UAE passport holders – seeking to enter the UK for the purpose of tourism or visiting family and friends – you are going to need an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) or a Standard Visitor visa. You may seek to apply for a Standard Visitor visa if you have a criminal record or if you have previously been refused entry into the UK for any purpose.
For UAE residents (people residing in the UAE but holding a passport of a different country), the requirements could be different. You can check all the eligibility criteria on gov.uk/check-uk-visa. Depending on your nationality, you may need an ETA or a Standard Visitor visa.
What you can and cannot do as a tourist in UK?
If you are in the UK as a tourist, you cannot do paid or unpaid tasks for a UK company or as a self-employed person. It is also not permitted to claim public funds (benefits), live in the UK for a pretty long duration through frequent or successive visits, and marry or register a civil partnership or give notice of marriage or civil partnership.
What you need at the UK border?
UAE citizens are required to apply for a Standard Visitor visa or electronic travel authorisation (ETA). For Emirati residents, the situation could be a similar one or slightly different. For those entering the UK for tourism purposes, you need to present a valid passport or travel document at the UK border. Your passport needs to be valid for your entire period of staying in the UK.
On top of it all, you may also be asked for proof on:
- you are visiting the UK for tourism purposes
- you can support yourself and your dependents during your stay in the UK (or have funding from someone else to support you)
- you have got your accommodation scene sorted
- you can pay for your return or further journey (or someone else is supporting you)
- you are going to exit the UK at the end
For more information: gov.uk/check-uk-visa/y/united-arab-emirates/tourism
UK Visa for UAE citizens and residents: Types and Fees
| UK Standard Visitor Visa Type | Fee (in GBP) | Maximum Length of Stay |
| Standard Visitor visa | 127 | 6 months |
| 2 year long-term Standard Visitor visa | 475 | 6 months per visit |
| 5 year long-term Standard Visitor visa | 848 | 6 months per visit |
| 10 year long-term Standard Visitor visa | 1,059 | 6 months per visit |
If you need a Standard Visitor visa to enter the UK, you need to apply for it online before boarding the flight and attend an appointment at a visa application centre in your country. The earliest you can apply is typically 3 months before you travel. If you and your family members are applying at the same time, each person must have their personal designated application and make the payment.
Please keep in mind that you might not need a visa to enter the UK. If you do not need a visa, you can apply for an electronic travel authorisation (ETA), a piece of document that lets you visit the UK for up to six months. Isn’t it incredible? Nonetheless, the UK Standard Visitor visa has been classified into at least three more types. There are the long-term Standard Visitor visas, lasting 2, 5 or 10 years. You can stay for a maximum of six months on each visit.
Please refer to the aforementioned table for all the details on different UK visa types for tourism purposes for UAE citizens and residents. It is recommended to apply for a long-term UK visa if you are entering and exiting the UK regularly. For other people, the Standard Visitor visa of six months (costing £127) could be an ideal choice.
Documents required for UK Visa for UAE citizens and residents
To apply for the UK Standard Visitor visa as a UAE passport holder or resident, your passport or travel document needs to be valid for the entirety of your stay in the country. Your passport also needs to have a blank page. In addition to that, you might be required to share some information or documentation, such as:
- the dates you are planning to travel to the UK
- details of your past history for the last 10 years
- your accommodation
- your expenses during the trip
- your annual income
- details of any possible criminal, civil or immigration offences
- the name and address of anyone paying for your trip
- a certificate as proof of you having a tuberculosis (TB) test if you are visiting the UK for more than six months
For the complete list: gov.uk/standard-visitor/apply-standard-visitor-visa
Step-by-step procedure to apply for UK Visa for UAE citizens and residents
1. Choosing the right UK Visa for your trip
You need to check the UK Visas and Immigration to check the right kind of UK Visa for your trip. Depending on your nationality, you might need to apply for a Standard Visitor visa or an electronic travel authorisation (ETA). ETA doesn’t guarantee entry to the UK. There are long-term Standard Visitor visas, too. Select the right visa and check the documents you are likely to need to complete the application.
Please note that if your documents are not in the English language, you might be required to get translations prepared beforehand. Each UK Visa type has different document requirements. You need to check your visa type carefully.
2. Get started
Once you have selected the right kind of visa and sorted out your documents, return to the UK Visas and Immigration (GOV.UK) platform and apply.
3. Pay your UK Visa fees
There is no fixed fee for your UK Visa. For the Standard Visitor visa, the fee is £127, permitting a maximum length of stay of six months. But for the long-term visas, the fees are higher. Therefore, check the official platform for all the details. Pay the immigration healthcare surcharge if it applies to you.
Please note that once the payment for your UK Visa application has been done, you are going to get a reference number. Make a note of this as this number is possibly going to be used later, such as at the time of booking or changing your appointment.
4. Make an appointment at a UK Visa Application Centre in UAE
Once you have paid for your visa application on GOV.UK, you are going to be directed to the VFS Global site to book an appointment at a UK Visa Application Centre in the UAE. Your biometric data is going to be captured.
| Emirate | Day | Opening Hours | Location |
| Abu Dhabi | Monday to Friday | 9:00 am to 5:00 pm | The Mall, Level – B2 World Trade Centre, Khalifa Bin Zayed the 1st Street (Airport Road), Abu Dhabi |
| Dubai | Monday to Friday | 9:00 am to 5:00 pm | WAFI Mall, Level 1, Phase 5 – Horus, Umm Hurair2, Dubai |
Premium UK Visa Application Centres in UAE (additional fees could be applied)
| Location | Day | Opening Hours |
| Abu Dhabi – Radisson Blu | Saturday | 9:00 am to 2:00 pm |
| Ajman – Radisson Blu | Wednesday | 10:00 am to 1:00 pm |
| Al Ain – Radisson Blu | Tuesday | 10:00 am to 3:00 pm |
| Dubai – Radisson Damac Hills | Thursday | 10:00 am to 6:00 pm |
| Dubai – Radisson Red DSO | Friday | 12:00 pm to 6:00 pm |
| Sharjah (3rd Floor Regus Building Near Mega Mall, Al Qasimia) | Monday, Thursday | 9:00 am to 4:00 pm |
5. Submit your documents
You can self-upload all the necessary documents to support your UK Visa application online. But UAE citizens and residents choosing to self-upload need to upload a clear coloured image of each page of their passport. If you don’t have a scanner nearby, the Visa Application Centre can help you in this regard, too.
6. Visit the UK Visa Application Centre in UAE
You cannot send someone in your place to attend the appointment.
7. Track UK Visa application online
You can track your UK Visa application and check the processing times on GOV.UK. The tracking can also be done by logging back into your VFS account. Please do not go to the Visa Application Centre until you have been contacted. You are not going to get your passport back until it is ready. Therefore, apply much earlier before your trip starts.
8. Return of your passport
You are going to get back your documents once the decision has been made. You can collect it in-person from the UK Visa Application Centre in the UAE or use a courier service. The entire procedure depends on you.
UK Visa for UAE citizens and residents: Processing Time
Once you have applied for your UK Visa online, submitted all the essential proofs of identity and other documents, a decision is going to be made in less than a month. You’ll get an email as the Home Office has made a decision on your application.
Tips for successful UK Visa for UAE citizens and residents application
You need to check out Borough Market for those delicious treats. The Edinburgh castles cannot be missed; they are enchanting. The UK, in itself, is one of the most beautiful countries out there. But to ensure that your UK Visa application doesn’t get rejected, here are some suggestions.
- Submit clear documentation. Do not confuse the authorities.
- Be transparent at all times
- Mention the purpose of applying for the UK visa as clearly as possible
- Choose the right kind of UK Visa
- Is your travel history solid? Are there any violation of rules or visa overstays?
- Schedule your UK Visa appointment in Dubai or other Emirates as soon as possible
- Book refundable bookings to ensure that you don’t lose a lot on flight and hotel bookings in case your visa application gets rejected
- Apply early to ensure that you have plenty of time to correct any errors and reapply if needed
- Check your passport validity
- Check your UAE residence visa validity
- Get a health insurance that is valid on international trips
- Don’t be late to your UK Visa appointment
Regular flights from UAE to UK for tourists
The UAE is one of the most accessible destinations across the globe, and so is the UK. You can find plenty of Dubai to London flights, Dubai to Edinburgh flights, Abu Dhabi to London flights and more. The first flight for London departs from Dubai at 3:10 am and lands at the destination in 8 hours at 7:10 am local time. The last flight of the day departs at 4:05 pm and lands in London at 8:00 pm. Emirates is operating numerous flights to London each day. The airline is also operating flights to multiple other places in the UK, such as Birmingham, Edinburgh, Manchester and more. There are also flights by Etihad from Abu Dhabi to London, flying at 10:40 am from Zayed International Airport and landing in London (LHR) at 2:30 pm local time.
UK Visa for UAE citizens and residents: FAQs
1. Do UAE citizens need a visa to enter the UK?
There are a couple of situations, actually. UAE passport holders can apply for either a Standard Visitor visa or an electronic travel authorisation (ETA). It is recommended to apply for a Standard Visitor visa if your entry to the UK has been previously refused.
2. What is an UK electronic travel authorisation (ETA)?
Your UK electronic travel authorisation (UK ETA) is going to help you travel to the country for tourism, visiting family or certain other purposes for up to six months. The estimated cost of an ETA is £16. But remember, ETA doesn’t guarantee entry to the UK.
3. What documents could be asked the UK border?
You must submit a valid passport or travel document. Depending on the circumstances, you might also be asked to prove that you are visiting for tourism purposes, able to support yourself financially, have arranged accommodation, and are going to leave at the end of the visit.
4. What is the UK Standard Visitor visa fee?
You need to pay £127 as the UK Standard Visitor visa fee. This visa permits a maximum stay of six months. But there are long-term visas too, lasting for 2,5 and 10 years. These cost more. There are multiple UK Visa Application Centres in the UAE, including premium options. The premium ones carry additional charges.
5. Do I need to translate my documents?
If your documents are not in the English language, you may be required to get translations prepared before applying.
6. Where are the UK Visa Application Centres in the UAE?
There is one in Abu Dhabi at The Mall, Level – B2 World Trade Centre, Khalifa Bin Zayed the 1st Street (Airport Road), Abu Dhabi. The UK Visa Application Centre in Dubai is located at WAFI Mall, Level 1, Phase 5 – Horus, Umm Hurair2, Dubai.
7. What is the usual UK Visa processing time?
UK Visa processing times depend on the type of visa. But the decision is generally submitted in less than a month. The processing time, nonetheless, could lengthen due to high demand during peak seasons, such as Christmas and Summer.
8. Do I need to get back my passport from the Visa Application Centre in-person?
It is not necessary at all times, though you can do collect your passport from the UK Visa Application Centre in the UAE in-person once the decision has been made. You can also apply for courier services to get back your document.
9. Can someone else attend my UK Visa appointment in my place?
It is not possible.
10. What are the best flights from the UAE to UK?
You can use Emirates as the airline operates plenty of flights from Dubai to London, Edinburgh, Manchester and more places in the UK. There are other airlines too, such as Etihad operating regular flights from Abu Dhabi to London and more.
The UK is one of the best places to visit from the UAE. Thousands of UAE citizens and residents make trips to the British land annually. People come here to explore the Borough Market, take a trip to the London Eye, click beautiful pictures of the Big Ben, indulge in the fascinating scenery of the Scottish Highlands and make memories that last a lifetime. The best time to visit London has come. London Christmas Markets are popping up fast, letting their guests explore all of the magic this festive period has to offer. Nonetheless, back at home too, different establishments are presenting incredible offers, brunches, staycation deals and dinners for Christmas in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and more places. Hope this UK Visa for UAE citizens and residents guide helps you plan your trip to the mesmerizing place at ease.
Book early and sort out the documents better to reduce chances of your UK Visa application getting rejected. Time to embark on that one magical journey of a lifetime!
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