US citizens travel to Dubai visa-free unless they do not meet the following criteria:
The visa upon arrival for US citizens is only valid for 30 days. If the passport holder wants to stay longer, they should apply for a longer one by contacting an immigration officer at the airport or calling the local immigration in the UAE.
Round-trip confirmed airline tickets to UAE and other destinations.
Nationals of the following countries are also eligible for a 30-day visa on arrival: Andorra, Australia, Austria, Brunei, Canada, China, Hong Kong, Ireland, Japan, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Mauritius, Monaco, New Zealand, San Marino, Singapore, Ukraine, United Kingdom and Northern Ireland (except British overseas citizens), and the Vatican.
Visas will be granted upon arrival for visitors from the mentioned countries. A 30-day stay will be granted upon arrival, and if they wish to extend further, they should contact an immigration official or reach out to a nearby immigration office.
Nationals of the following countries are eligible for a 90-day visa on arrival: Argentina, Austria, Bahamas Islands, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Kiribati, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Maldives, Malta, Montenegro, Nauru, Netherlands, Norway, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Serbia, Seychelles, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and Uruguay.
Citizens of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) are exempted from visa requirements. These countries are Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.
Other nationalities not included in visa exemptions and visas on arrival should obtain visas prior to entering the UAE. They can do this through travel agencies, their hotels, airlines, or relatives in the UAE.
You can find more information on this through our dedicated UAE visa page.
You can choose from different types of visas to travel to the United Arab Emirates:
A type of visa that entrepreneurs can apply for in order to stay for a long period in the country. Their dependents are also eligible as long as the entrepreneur has set up a business in the country.
A tourist visa is one of the most common types. It can be used for 30 days or 90 days, with single and multiple entry options. The visa can be extended up to two times without a need to exit the country.
A student visa qualifies an individual to study in the UAE. The student should be sponsored by either their parents, who must be UAE residents, or the accredited university/college they will be studying at. Student visas are awarded for one year at a time and renewable upon proof of continuation of study.
This type of visa is popular among those who have layovers in Dubai or Abu Dhabi. There are two types of transit visas in the UAE: a 48-hour visa, which is free of charge, and a 96-hour visa for 50 AED only. The transit visa is sponsored by the passenger's airlines and must be obtained and approved prior to flying into the country. These cannot be extended.
Dubai has introduced a special “virtual working programme” which allows individuals to live in Dubai while working remotely for a company outside of the UAE. This programme essentially serves as a residence visa and has a validity of 1 year (renewable through reapplication). With this programme, you are also able to bring your family to Dubai.
It is a visa type that residents over 55 can acquire for a period of 5 years. It can be renewed if eligibility criteria are met.
Foreigners can enter the country with their companions for treatment in the UAE. The sponsor is the medical establishment (public and private), and there are two types: a single-entry permit and a multiple-entry permit both for treatment.
While additional documents might be requested depending on the visa you are applying for, general application requirements include:
Important:
Visa requirements for the UAE change from time to time, so make sure to check regularly before sending your application.
Useful links:
Dubai Visa Guide | Dubai Tourist Visa Requirements
Do you need an entry permit/visa to enter the UAE? | The Official Portal of the UAE Government