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Updated 22 August 2026 · Verified by Martin Muthugumi against ICP and GDRFA DubaiApply for a Dubai tourist visa online by sending your passport scan and photograph via WhatsApp or email. A UAE-licensed travel agency types and submits the application to ICP or GDRFA. The approved visa PDF arrives in your inbox, typically within 2 to 3 working days for standard processing or 4 to 8 hours on the express tier.
All prices all-inclusive: UAE government fee, typing fee and PRO fee. No additional charges at checkout. Prices verified June 2026.
AED 489 for a 30-day single entry. AED 689 for 60 days. All-inclusive, no hidden charges.
ICP / GDRFA DubaiStandard: 2 to 3 working days. Express: 4 to 8 hours on UAE working days. Applications before 12:00 PM are in the same-day batch.
Arabiers processing dataPassport valid 6 months, white-background photograph, travel insurance. Birth certificate for minors. Sponsor's Emirates ID if sponsored.
ICP / GDRFA DubaiNo. UK, US, EU and 65 other nationalities get a free 90-day on-arrival stamp. No advance application needed.
ICP · u.aeFrom the date you enter the UAE, not the issue date. You have 60 days from issue to make your first entry.
ICPYes. A UAE tourist visa covers all seven Emirates: Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ajman, Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain.
ICP / GDRFA Dubai
A Dubai tourist visa is a prearranged UAE tourist entry permit issued by the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (ICP) or the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA). It is issued as a PDF e-visa and is valid on entry at any UAE airport or port.
Not everyone needs one. Citizens of 74 nationalities including the UK, USA, EU, Australia and Canada receive a free on-arrival stamp at the UAE border. A prearranged tourist visa is needed by nationalities that do not qualify for on-arrival entry, or by on-arrival nationals who have used up their on-arrival entitlement and want to stay longer.
If you are unsure which category applies to you, the full situation framework is on the UAE visit visa page linked in the breadcrumb above.
Source: ICP Smart Services · GDRFA Dubai
The entire process runs via WhatsApp or email. You do not need to visit an office.
Scan and share via WhatsApp or email:
Source: ICP Smart Services · GDRFA Dubai document requirements
| Service tier | Typical processing time | Best for | From |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | 2 to 3 working days | Planned trips with advance notice | AED 489 |
| Express | 4 to 8 hours on UAE working days | Same-day flights, urgent travel, expiring visas | AED 789 |
Applications submitted before 12:00 PM UAE time on a working day are prioritised in the same-day batch. The UAE weekend falls on Friday afternoon, Saturday and Sunday. Applications received after 12:00 PM Friday are processed from Monday morning.
Standard visa fees are non-refundable once processing begins. This is a UAE government rule, not an agency policy.
Source: ICP Smart Services · Arabiers Holidays UAE processing data 2016 to 2026
The UAE has five distinct entry situations. A prearranged tourist visa is needed for Situation 4 only. Situations 1, 2 and 3 receive free on-arrival stamps. Situation 5 has its own grace period rules.
These nationalities receive a free 90-day on-arrival stamp when they land at any UAE airport. No advance visa application is needed. Once the 90 days are used, exit is required the stamp cannot be extended in-country. For re-entry after the 90 days, a new prearranged tourist visa is needed before returning.
Qualifying nationals apply for a preapproved entry permit (14-day for AED 100, 60-day for AED 250) via the GDRFA portal before arrival. This is separate from a standard tourist visa. Since May 2024, the permit must be applied for in advance it is no longer issued at the airport.
These 13 nationalities receive a free 30-day on-arrival stamp. No advance application is needed. The stamp can be extended once in-country for 30 days at AED 990. Exiting to Oman and re-entering resets the 30-day stamp at no cost.
This is the group that needs a prearranged tourist visa the product this page covers. Apply online via WhatsApp before travelling. Standard processing is 2 to 3 working days. Express processing delivers in 4 to 8 hours for urgent travel. The visa is valid from the date of UAE entry, with 60 days from issue to make the first entry.
When a UAE residence visa is cancelled, ICP grants a 30-day grace period from the system cancellation date (not the last working day). On-arrival passport holders can exit and re-enter on a free stamp. Prearranged visa passport holders need a new tourist visa before re-entering. The grace period has been zero days for tourist and visit visas since October 2024 only cancelled residents qualify for the 30-day window.
Source: ICP Smart Services · GDRFA Dubai · u.ae UAE Government portal
The following nationalities receive a free 90-day on-arrival stamp. No advance application is needed.
Source: ICP Smart Services · GDRFA Dubai · u.ae eligibility subject to change, verify before travel
An authentic UAE tourist visa PDF issued by ICP or GDRFA contains: the applicant's full name as in the passport, passport number, nationality, visa type and duration, entry permit number (EP number), file number, issue date and the issuing authority's name. It is not a basic Word document or a generic form without an EP number.
Verify any visa before travelling at icp.gov.ae using the entry permit number and passport number. If the visa does not appear on the government portal, it is not real.
If your travel is today, tomorrow or your current visa is about to expire, the express tier processes the same official UAE tourist visa on the priority handling queue.
If you are already in the UAE and want to stay longer, three options are available depending on your visa type and situation.
Full extension options for each visa type are on the UAE tourist visa extension page. The airport-to-airport visa change page covers the A2A process in detail. If you prefer to change your visa status without leaving the UAE, see the visa change without exit page.
Source: ICP Smart Services · GDRFA Dubai
A Dubai tourist visa application is processed by ICP or GDRFA after submission. The speed and outcome depend almost entirely on the accuracy of the documents submitted. Most delays and held applications share the same small set of causes.
Because the UAE does not require financial proof, flight tickets or hotel bookings at the time of tourist visa application, a provider citing these as reasons for a delay is not referencing an official UAE immigration ground. Ask for the official ICP or GDRFA notification if any query arises on your application status.
Source: ICP Smart Services · Arabiers Holidays UAE visa desk data 2016 to 2026
A 30-day tourist visa starts from the date you enter the UAE, not the date of issue. You have 60 days from issue to make your first entry. If you do not enter within 60 days, the visa expires unused and the fee is not refunded.
A UAE tourist visa issued by ICP or GDRFA is valid in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ajman, Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain. You can travel freely between all seven on a single visa.
Source: ICP Smart Services · GDRFA Dubai
Check your visa status and validity online at any time using your passport number at the ICP portal.
Source: ICP Smart Services portal
AED 489 for a 30-day single entry. AED 689 for a 60-day single entry. AED 990 for a 30-day multiple entry. AED 1,190 for a 60-day multiple entry. All prices are all-inclusive: UAE government fee, typing fee and PRO fee. No additional charges at checkout. If you need the visa in 4 to 8 hours, the express tier starts at AED 789.
Standard processing is 2 to 3 working days from document submission to visa PDF delivery. Express processing typically delivers in 4 to 8 hours on UAE working days. Applications submitted before 12:00 PM UAE time on a working day are prioritised in the same-day batch. The UAE weekend falls on Friday afternoon, Saturday and Sunday.
A colour copy of your passport valid for at least 6 months (all four corners visible, no shadow across the machine-readable zone), a white-background photograph in UAE specification, and travel medical insurance valid in the UAE. A birth certificate is required for minors. A sponsoring UAE resident must provide their Emirates ID and residence visa page.
No. UK, US, EU and 65 other nationalities receive a free 90-day on-arrival stamp at UAE immigration. No advance application is needed. A tourist visa is needed only once the on-arrival entitlement is used up or for nationalities not covered by on-arrival entry.
Prepaid tourist visa holders can extend twice, each extension 30 days at AED 1,190 per extension, without leaving the UAE. 30-day on-arrival stamp holders can extend once for 30 days at AED 990. After both extensions are used, exit is required. The airport-to-airport visa change provides a new tourist visa the same day from AED 1,900.
The visa validity starts from the date you enter the UAE, not the date of issue. You have 60 days from the date of issue to make your first entry. If you do not enter within 60 days, the visa expires unused and the fee is non-refundable.
Yes. A UAE tourist visa issued by ICP or GDRFA is valid across all seven Emirates: Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ajman, Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain. You can travel freely between all seven on a single visa.
No. Under UAE immigration regulations administered by ICP and GDRFA, all visa fees are non-refundable once processing begins, regardless of outcome. This is a government rule, not an agency policy.
Check the DET Trade Licence number on the Dubai Economy and Tourism business search portal at dubai.ae/business. Arabiers' licence number is 1176592. A legitimate agency displays its licence number publicly, uses a verified payment gateway and provides all-inclusive pricing with no hidden fees. Verify the issued visa at icp.gov.ae before travelling.
It is the same official UAE tourist visa issued by ICP or GDRFA. The only difference is the handling tier. Standard processing takes 2 to 3 working days and costs from AED 489. Express processing is submitted to the priority queue and typically delivers in 4 to 8 hours on UAE working days, at a higher fee from AED 789.
This guide is general information reviewed by Arabiers' UAE Visa & Travel Content Specialist. It is not legal advice. Visa rules and fees are set by the UAE Government and can change. Confirm current requirements at icp.gov.ae or gdrfad.gov.ae before acting. Last reviewed 22 August 2026.
