48 Hours Dubai Transit Visa
Apply online, receive your e-visa within 04–24 hours.
Is 48 hours actually enough for your layover?
This visa fits a specific window — roughly 8 to 40 hours between flights. If your layover is:
- Under 8 hours — you don't need this visa at all. Stay airside.
- 8–40 hours — this is the visa. Enough for one overnight and a real look at the city.
- Over 40 hours — think carefully. A 46-hour layover on a 48-hour visa leaves almost no margin if your inbound flight is delayed. See when 96 hours is the safer call →
What 48 hours actually covers
One overnight, realistically. Enough time for Downtown Dubai (Burj Khalifa, Dubai Mall, the fountain show) plus either Old Dubai or the Marina — not both, not a desert safari on top, unless your flight isn't until late evening on day two. See the transit-visa itinerary built around this exact time budget →
What you'll need
- Passport valid 6+ months from your arrival date
- Confirmed onward ticket to a third country, departing within 48 hours of entry
- A recent white-background photo
- Hotel booking, if you're staying overnight
Pricing
| Amount | |
|---|---|
| Government fee | AED 0 — the 48-hour visa has no official issuance fee |
| Our service fee | AED 478 (USD 130) |
This is the one place the 48-hour visa is genuinely cheaper than the 96-hour version, which carries an AED 120 government charge. If your layover fits inside 40 hours with comfortable margin, that saving is real. If it's tight, the saving isn't worth the risk — see the comparison guide above.
The one condition that catches people out
No extensions, no upgrades after you land. If you decide on day one that you want to stay longer, this visa doesn't allow it — that decision has to be made before you apply, not after you arrive. If there's any real chance your plans grow, apply for 96 hours from the start.
Contact Our Visa Management Team
- Email- sales@dubaitransitevisa.com
Frequently Asked Questions
It's workable, but it leaves limited room for a delayed inbound flight or a slow immigration queue. If your onward ticket has any flexibility risk, the 96-hour visa gives you real breathing room for a modest cost difference.
No — there's no published route to do this after entry. Apply for the visa duration you actually need from the outset.
Yes, by the government fee alone — AED 0 versus AED 120. Our service fee is separate from both.
Your 48 hours starts at immigration, not at hotel check-in, so yes — plan to head into the city first and check into your hotel later in the day rather than waiting outside a lobby.
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