Every passport falls into one of three groups for UAE entry. Find yours and you have your answer.
Before that, one thing that applies to everyone: you only need any of this if you leave the airport. If you stay airside and connect straight through, none of it matters. Our page on leaving the airport on a layover covers where that line falls.
The Three Groups
| Group | What You Do | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Visa-free | Nothing. Arrive and enter. | None |
| Visa on arrival | Nothing in advance. Issued at the counter. | Varies by nationality and visa type |
| Visa required | Apply before you fly. | Varies by visa type and application channel |
Group 1: Visa-Free Nationals
Citizens of these countries can enter the UAE without obtaining a visa in advance, subject to the applicable entry conditions and permitted stay.
What You Still Need:
- A passport valid for at least 6 months
- A confirmed onward or return ticket
- Nothing else
Being visa-free does not mean entry is guaranteed. It means you do not need a visa. Immigration officers retain discretion, and a traveller with an unexplained history can still be refused.
Group 2: Visa on Arrival
These nationalities may be eligible for visa on arrival without applying for a visa in advance. The permitted stay and conditions depend on the nationality and passport category.
The Rules That Catch People Out
It is issued, not guaranteed. You join the queue like everyone else and the officer decides.
There may be a fee, depending on your nationality and the visa-on-arrival category that applies.
Carry a printed onward ticket. Asked for often enough that a flat phone battery becomes a real problem.
Check the duration granted. If it is shorter than your planned stay, you have a problem you will not discover until you try to leave.
Group 3: Special Visa-on-Arrival Eligibility
Some travellers who would normally need a UAE visa before travelling may qualify for a visa on arrival if they meet specific nationality and residence-permit requirements.
As of September 1, 2026, the rule applies to nationals of Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines, Kenya and South Africa who hold an ordinary passport and a valid residence permit issued by one of the following:
- United States
- United Kingdom
- An EU member state
- Singapore
- Japan
- South Korea
- Australia
- New Zealand
- Canada
Eligible accompanying family members can also qualify under the scheme. The visa is available for 14 days or 60 days, depending on the type issued. The 14-day visa can be extended once, while the 60-day visa is issued for a single stay and is not extendable.
The passport must meet the applicable validity requirements, and the qualifying residence permit must be valid. This is not a general exception for anyone holding a US, UK or EU document; both your nationality and qualifying residence permit must meet the current rules.
What Does It Cost?
The current total issuance fee is:
- 14-day visa: USD 140
- 60-day visa: USD 450
Group 4: Visa Required
Everyone not in the groups above applies before flying. This is the largest group and it includes most travellers from South Asia, much of Africa, and parts of Central Asia and the Middle East.
You then choose between two visas based on how long you are stopping:
| Layover | Visa |
|---|---|
| Under 8 hours | None needed. Stay airside. |
| 8 to 48 hours | 48-hour transit visa |
| 48 to 96 hours | 96-hour transit visa |
| Over 96 hours | Tourist visa. See how a transit visa compares with a tourist visa. |
GCC Residents: A Separate Rule
If you hold a residence permit from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain or Oman, different rules apply to you regardless of your nationality.
As of September 1, 2026, GCC residents may apply for a UAE entry visa valid for up to 30 days, extendable once. The passport must be valid for at least six months, the GCC residence permit must be valid for at least one year, and the applicant's profession must be on the list of professions approved for the visa, subject to evaluation by the competent authority. The current GDRFA Dubai fee is AED 250 plus 5% VAT.
The important thing to understand is that GCC residence does not automatically qualify you. Your profession must be on the approved profession list, and the application remains subject to the competent authority's evaluation.
Children and Infants
Children and infants must meet the same applicable UAE entry or transit requirements as other travellers. Whether a child needs a visa depends on their nationality, passport and whether they need to enter the UAE during the transit.
If a child is travelling with only one parent, check the entry, exit and airline requirements for the countries on your itinerary before you fly. A parental consent letter may be required in some circumstances, depending on the child's nationality, the country of departure or destination, and the airline's rules. If required, arrange the appropriate documentation before travelling.
Under 8 Hours: When None of This Applies
If you are connecting airside and never entering the country, you do not need a visa whatever your nationality.
The Exceptions Are Worth Knowing:
- A terminal change that takes you landside. At Dubai International some transfers push you through immigration whether you intended it or not.
- Separate tickets. If your bag is not through-checked and you have to collect and re-check it, you may have to enter the country to do so.
- Very long airside waits with no facilities. Legal, but unpleasant.
How to Check Your Specific Case Quickly
- Find your passport country in the lists above.
- If you are visa-required, check whether the third-country exception applies to you.
- If it does not, work out your layover length from your actual itinerary.
- Pick the visa that covers it, with margin.
- Apply as soon as your itinerary is confirmed.
If your case is not clean, for example you have a previous UAE overstay, a cancelled residence visa or a refusal on record, get it reviewed before you apply rather than after you are refused.
Our page on the general rules for layover travellers covers the broader picture if your situation does not fit neatly into the groups above.
