Before leaving to come to Dubai, make sure you understand your legal situation. Depending on your nationality, you might need a visa, residence permit and/or work permit. Read our guide to legal requirements for coming to Dubai or use the Just Landed forums to ask other members for help.

In order to obtain a visa, you require a sponsor, which is normally your employer if you’re working. If you’re visiting for a holiday or business, the hotel where you’re staying can act as your sponsor. To request this service, you must send your travel itinerary and passport details by fax a few weeks in advance of your stay. Ensure that confirmation has been given and that your visa will be left at your point of entry before you depart. A small fee will be added to your hotel bill for this service. Additionally, your hotel might be able to obtain short extensions to your stay, provided they’re sure of your itinerary during the stay. The hotel is responsible for you during your time in the country. If you’re taking up work in Dubai, your sponsor will normally arrange the necessary visas and permits for you.

Most visas and permits consist of passport stamps, so that immigration authorities can easily check that you have the necessary authorisation when you enter or leave the country. There are costs associated with the various visas and permits, but in the case of foreign workers these are normally met by your employer. Note that the prices quoted below should be taken as a guide only, as they’re subject to change, as are the conditions and requirements; the relevant state’s embassy or consulate can provide you with the current information.

Visa Types

GCC nationals, expatriates residing in other GCC states and holders of British passports may enter Dubai without a visa.

Other nationalities need a visa, obtained from a UAE embassy prior to travelling. Young, single female visitors should carefully check the entry requirements. An income minimum applies to family members visiting expatriate workers.

Transit Visa 

Valid for 14 days, transit visas are intended for those travelling within the Emirates and for short-stay business trips.

A sponsor or hotel can arrange one and they cost around AED120 ($33).

Visitor Visa 

All visitors should obtain a visa before travelling, by applying to the UAE embassy in their own country. Hotels can act as sponsors for visas, provided they’re given sufficient notice.

Visitor visas cost around AED110 ($30) and are usually valid for 30 days, although 60-day visas are also available.

Overstaying the period can result in a daily fine of around AED100 ($27).

Labour Card & Residence Visa 

All foreign workers require a residence visa and ‘labour card’. To obtain these, you must first undergo a medical examination. Non-westerners generally require a more extensive examination than westerners. In due course, a residence visa is issued and eventually a labour card, which is a kind of identity card to be carried at all times, your passport having been surrendered to your employer.

 Residence visas are valid for three years and are easy to renew. There’s an age limit of 50 years, but this can occasionally be overcome, if appropriate reasons are presented.