UAE tourist visas: Here are the latest updates for travellers

UK, US and Canadian passport holders now have 90-day tourist visas to be used within a 180-day period

Travellers are warned to keep themselves informed of latest visit visa requirements before arriving in the Emirates. Getty Images

Families flying to Dubai on UAE visit visas are being reminded to keep themselves informed of the latest rules and requirements surrounding length of stay and necessary documents to avoid disrupting their holiday plans.

This comes after many would-be tourists were affected when their visit visas did not come through in time. The disruption also largely affected those heading to Oman or neighbouring countries for visa renewal purposes.

Day trips to Oman

For travellers who need to submit documents to obtain a visit visa, turnaround time has affected their re-entry to the country.

“Many of our clients have faced delays in Oman recently,” Dubai-based travel agent Nizamuddin Puthiyapurayil told The National. When the delay stretched from days to weeks, "we advised them to fly back to their home country and wait before reapplying”.

Mr Puthiyapurayil said those exiting the country, via road or air, use the "A2A" (Airport to Airport) visa, which helps people to extend their stay. But authorities are tightening checks on these visas, he added.

Midhin Raj, a UAE resident, had to fly his 18-year-old son back to his home country of India after he was unable to secure a visa renewal in Oman. “We had to extend my son's stay in Oman for a few days in the hope that the visa would come through but when it was delayed further, my travel agent advised us to fly him back to India," he said.

Mr Puthiyapurayil urged travellers to maintain what he called a healthy gap between visa renewals to avoid rejection.

UK, US and Canadian tourist visas

Visitors from the UK, US and Canada who are used to renewing their 30-day tourist visa by re-entering the country also face issues after new policies came into force at the end of August.

Travellers from these countries now get a multi-entry 90-day tourist visa on arrival when entering the UAE. Similar to the tourist visa available to Europeans, there is a 90-day limit within a 180-day period from when the visa was issued, the General Directorate of Residency and Foreign Affairs-Dubai confirmed. Previously, visitors from these countries could stay for up to 30 days after each separate entry to the Emirates.

Upon arrival, travellers from the UK, US and Canada obtain their 90-day visit visa at immigration counters. Passports should be valid for at least six months from the date of entry.

If a visitor is here for 90 days continuously, they must leave the country for another 90 days before being allowed to re-enter.

Information available on the Emirates Airline website confirmed that travellers’ passports will be stamped with a multiple-entry 90‑day visit visa valid for six months from the date of issue.

Which documents are needed for a visit visa?

Travellers visiting the UAE from countries such as India and Pakistan need to supply information about their stay before they are granted a visa.

Manju Mathew from MapShore travel agency in Dubai told The National that anyone flying in for tourism must submit legitimate return flight tickets and hotel bookings.

"We’ve noticed that the rejections happen when passengers submit dummy bookings [fake reservations to try to secure a visa without paying full price for flights and accommodation]. The documents are being cross-checked, so travellers must submit proper documents,” she added.

Mr Puthiyapurayil said the dates on the hotel and flight bookings must match. “Some people miss this important detail," he said. "They have different dates on their hotel bookings and flights. This will obviously lead to rejection.”

Meanwhile, those applying for UAE visit visas to see their families must submit the tenancy contract and Emirates ID of the family member who lives in the country. “Like every country, the UAE has the right to decide which case is genuine and which is not,” he added.

GDRFA-Dubai confirmed to The National that valid return tickets and hotel bookings are a must when applying for the UAE visit visa.

The UAE’s immigration laws state that those entering on a visit visa for 30 or 60 days must be in the country for tourism only and not to look for employment or extend one’s stay with family.

A special visa for jobseekers was introduced in 2022. The UAE 60-day, multi-entry jobseeker visa is to help attract young talent and skilled professionals find employment in the country. It requires a sponsor or host, and a different set of documents. Families can also sponsor their parents or blood relations if they meet salary and job criteria set by UAE authorities.

Pakistan envoy advises citizens to follow visa rules

In July, the Pakistan embassy in Abu Dhabi warned its citizens not to travel to the UAE on visit visas without the required documentation, or they risk being sent back home. It also advised Pakistanis against travelling on tourist permits with the intention of seeking employment, without having concrete job offers in place.

Minimum cash requirement for visit visa holders

In May, the Dubai airport authorities toughened up on rules that require visitors to have a return ticket and a minimum amount of money for their stay. Immigration officials, in some cases, were asking for proof that passengers have at least Dh3,000 ($816) in cash or credit, and a return ticket home.

The rules, which are not new, are to ensure people are not misusing the tourist visa to stay beyond 30 or 60 days, and to catch out jobseekers who have no intention of leaving.

With input from Ali Al Shouk