Dubai Visa for UK Residents on a Non-UK Passport

Whether you need a Dubai visa depends on your passport, not just your UK residence. Indian and Filipino passport holders with a valid UK residence permit can get a 14 or 60-day visa through a special route, if they meet its conditions. Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Nigerian, Ghanaian, Sri Lankan and Turkish passport holders need a visa arranged before they fly.

Do you need a visa for Dubai?

Dubai is one of the seven emirates of the United Arab Emirates, so UAE visa rules apply. The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs labels each nationality on its visa list. On 9 October 2026 it showed:

If you hold an EU or other passport, check your nationality on the UAE's list. The UAE government portal warns that the lists of countries eligible for a visa on arrival "may vary from time to time".

The 14 or 60-day visa for Indian and Filipino UK residents

The UAE has a route for nationals of certain countries who live in other countries. India was eligible for years. On 25 June 2026, the UAE's Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) added Indonesia, Viet Nam, Thailand, the Philippines, Kenya and South Africa, and widened the list of qualifying countries of residence. The United Kingdom is on that list.

What the official sources say:

• Two lengths. A 14-day visa, which can be extended once for the same period, or a 60-day visa, which is single-entry and cannot be extended.
• Fees. The ICP gave the fee for the 14-day visa as AED 100 and for the 60-day visa as AED 250. Its online service also lists an AED 100 smart services fee. Extending a 14-day visa costs AED 250 plus an AED 100 application fee.
• Validity rules. Dubai's General Directorate of Identity and Foreign Affairs (GDRFA) asks for a passport valid for at least six months, and a UK residence permit or visa valid for at least six months.
• Family. Accompanying family members are covered if they meet the same conditions, including eligible nationality.

Apply online before you fly

The UAE's announcements call this a "visa on arrival", but the ICP and GDRFA service pages describe an online application, with the visa issued before you travel and a 30-day window to enter. Apply in advance rather than relying on the airport counter, and check with your airline that it accepts your documents. For Indian nationals, the GDRFA says the approved visa is emailed in about 48 hours. Your UK status is now an eVisa, so keep a printout of your status ready.

Everyone else: arrange your visa before you travel

If you are not eligible for that route, you need a visa issued before you fly. The UAE government portal says a tourist visa "is for those who are not eligible for visa on arrival or a visa-free entry to the UAE", and that "The UAE's embassies do not issue tourist visas."

Through your airline

The portal says Emirates, Etihad and flydubai can arrange a visa for their passengers, and that "One of the conditions is flying with them." Check what your airline offers before you book, because the visa types and fees differ.

Through a hotel or licensed travel agent

Hotels and licensed travel agents can also arrange your visa. For Dubai tourist visas, the GDRFA says: "Only accredited tourism offices in the emirate can issue this kind of visa." Its published government fee is AED 200 for 30 days or AED 300 for 60 days, single entry, plus 5% VAT. Agents usually add their own charges.

Directly with the UAE authorities

You can also apply online through the ICP or the GDRFA. The ICP's visit visas allow stays of 30, 60 or 90 days, and you must enter within 60 days of issue. If relatives or friends live in the UAE, they can apply to sponsor your visit. The ICP sets a minimum monthly salary for sponsors of AED 4,000 for first-degree relatives, AED 8,000 for second and third-degree relatives and AED 15,000 for friends.

Types of UAE tourist visa

Official sources describe the 5-year visa's limits differently. The GDRFA says up to 90 days at a time and no more than 180 days in a year. Check the current terms when you apply.

Documents you usually need

• A passport valid for at least six months from your date of entry
• A recent colour photo
• A confirmed return or onward ticket
• A hotel booking, or your host's address if you stay with family
• Health insurance valid in the UAE, for most tourist visas
• Proof of your UK status, if your visa depends on it
• Pakistani nationals: the GDRFA asks applicants from some countries, including Pakistan, for their national identity card

Mistakes that delay trips

• Assuming UK residence is enough. For most nationalities, living in the UK does not change the UAE visa rules. Only the nationalities on the ICP's list can use the residence route.
• Asking the embassy in London. UAE embassies do not issue tourist visas. Apply through an airline, a hotel or licensed agent, or the official ICP or GDRFA services.
• Using unofficial visa websites. Apply through official channels or a licensed agent, and be wary of sites that look official but charge large fees.
• Booking fixed flights before the visa is issued. If your visa depends on an airline or agent, check what they need, and how long they take, before you buy non-refundable tickets.
• A passport that runs out too soon. Six months' validity from your date of entry is the UAE rule.
• Missing documents for your nationality. Pakistani applicants for a Dubai tourist visa, for example, need their national identity card as well as their passport.

Check the travel advice before you book

On 9 October 2026, the FCDO's advice for the UAE, last updated on 24 July 2026, did not advise against travel. It did warn that "Since 8 July there have been strikes and retaliatory attacks by Iran in a number of locations across the region", and told British nationals in the Middle East to be prepared for flight cancellations and periodic airspace closures. FCDO advice is written for British nationals, but read the latest version before you book whatever your passport.

Plan your Dubai trip with us

Not sure which visa route fits your passport? Book a free eligibility check and we will tell you what you need before you book flights. See our UAE visa page for documents and fees. If you are adding Umrah to your trip, read our Umrah guide and Saudi Arabia page.