Obtaining visa to travel to Dubai


Dubai has become quite a popular destination because of its culture and glamour. To visit Dubai, many nationalities require a visa prior to their entry in their city. Dubai is said to be the commercial capital of the country of the United Arab Emirates and consist of 7 Emirates or states including Dubai.


The advantage of obtaining a UAE visa is that it allows any traveler with a free movement of travel across all the seven emirates – Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Abu Dhabi, Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah, and Umm al Quwain.

To visit Dubai, a tourist who requires a visa to travel may either obtain a UAE tourist visa or UAE visit visa. The tourist visa can be used if the person traveling will involve in some leisure activities and is usually issued as 14 days, 30 or 90 days. After the expiration of the visa, the person needs to exit the country and the visa cannot be converted into employment or residence. The visit visa allows for a long term stay for either 30 or 90 days and the visa can be converted into employment or residence.

Any tourist who wishes to stay in the UAE for more than 14 days can apply for 30 or 90 days leisure visa. However, if your purpose of visit is more likely to visit your friends or family members or business purposes can apply for a visit visa. In any cases, the tourist or the visit visa is non-renewable. The visit visa more likely requires a guarantor of UAE, who is a resident of the country. Apart from the visa fees in the visit visa, a refundable security deposit may also be required, depending on the nationality of the said passenger.


It is important to know:

-          Visa on arrival can be obtained only with normal passport holders.

-          The passport needs to be valid for a minimum of six months to obtain a visa.

-          UAE visa can also be obtained on a single entry for 30 or 90 days or multiple entries for 30 or 90 days.

-          The minimum documents required are a 6 months valid passport, a clear white background photograph, visa application form. These documents are general and fit the purpose of both tourist/leisure visa and visit visa.

-          Al children or infants require a visa to enter UAE.


-          All UAE visas are electronic or e-visas issued via the email. You need to have a print of the visas to show at the UAE immigration, upon arrival.

-          It is always advised to apply for your visa at least a month before your travel. However, in urgent basis you can also apply for your visa a week prior to your travel.

-          The UAE visa is issued within 4-5 working days upon submission of all required documents.

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