The UAE splits travellers into three tiers: free visa on arrival, paid visa on arrival, and advance-visa-required. Below is the current 2026 list. Bookmark this and check before booking flights — the tiers do change occasionally, most recently in 2023 when several African and Latin American passports were added to the free tier.
Free 30-day visa on arrival (single entry)
Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, China, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Hong Kong (SAR), Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kiribati, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macau (SAR), Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Montenegro, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Serbia, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Vatican City.
Free 90-day visa on arrival (visa exemption)
GCC nationals (Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar) and Mexican passport holders get 180 days per year in the UAE with no application. Israeli citizens receive 90 days on arrival following the 2020 Abraham Accords.
Paid on-arrival visa (14-day, ~AED 100)
Indian passport holders with a valid US visa, US green card, or UK/EU residence permit qualify. Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Sri Lankan, Filipino and Nepali citizens with the same US/UK/EU documents also qualify. This is the fastest option if you already hold one of those secondary documents.
Advance visa required
Every other nationality — most of Africa, most of South Asia (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal without secondary documents), Iran, Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan, Yemen, most of Central Asia. Advance visas are applied through DTCM-registered agents, airlines, or the GDRFA portal. Standard processing: 3–7 working days.
Universal passport rules
Regardless of category: 6 months minimum passport validity from date of entry, one blank page for the entry stamp, and physical passport (electronic passports are accepted but you still need to carry it). Damaged passports (torn cover, water damage) get refused by airlines even if the UAE would technically accept them.
Frequently asked questions
How many countries get free visa on arrival in Dubai?+
77 countries get a free 30-day visa on arrival, plus GCC nationals (visa-exempt with 180 days), plus Mexico (90 days) and Israel (90 days).
Can Indian and Pakistani citizens get visa on arrival?+
Only with a secondary document: a valid US visa, US green card, or UK/EU residence permit. This unlocks a 14-day visa on arrival for AED 100.
How long is the free Dubai on-arrival visa valid?+
30 days for most of the 77 eligible countries. Extendable twice by 30 days each for a total of 90 days per entry.
Which passports don't need any visa for Dubai?+
GCC citizens (Saudi, Kuwaiti, Bahraini, Omani, Qatari) can enter with just their national ID and stay up to 180 days per year.
Has the Dubai visa list changed recently?+
Yes — several African and Latin American countries were added to the free tier in 2023. Always double-check before booking flights.
Do I need to pay for the on-arrival visa in advance?+
No. Free-tier passports pay nothing. The AED 100 paid-tier visa (for Indians/Pakistanis with US/UK/EU documents) is paid in cash or card at the airport.
What passport validity does the UAE require?+
Minimum 6 months from your date of entry, plus one blank page. Applies to all nationalities regardless of visa category.
