Call Now!
Dubai On-Arrival Visa for UK Citizens and Extension Options Explained A helicopter view of the Dubai city

Dubai On-Arrival Visa for UK Citizens and Extension Options Explained

profile picture

Written By Arabiers Digital & Reviewed by Robeena Brown

03 July 2024 | 11 min read

As a holder of British passports, a free-of-charge Dubai on-arrival visa for UK Citizens will be granted upon arrival in the UAE. No application in advance of travel is needed, and your passport will be stamped with the visa as you pass through Immigration. The visa issued at the airport for British passport holders is valid for 30 days.

 

Do British Citizens Need a Visa for Dubai?

If you are a British or UK passport holder, you don't need a prior visa arrangement when traveling to Dubai. All required of you is to have the traveling documents, and the airport immigration office, when entering Dubai, will be issued 30 days on-arrival visa.

The 30 days arrival visa allows you to stay in Dubai for 30 days, but there you can get your visa extended by another 30 days. You don't have to exit the country and worry about how to extend the visa. You can let us Arabiers process everything for you.

If you plan to stay in Dubai long, you can change your visa, which is possible without exiting the country.

What are the Dubai Visa Requirements for British Citizens?

You have to meet the Dubai visa requirements for British citizens to be issued with the 30 days on arrival visa. The requirements include;

  • Original passport and should be at least 6 months from the UAE's expected departure time.
  • A confirmed return flight ticket or a flight ticket to another destination.

If you meet these requirements, which you will be prompted to present by the immigration authorities, you will be issued 30 days on-arrival visa.

 

Overstaying Fines

The 30 days on-arrival visa allows UK citizens to stay in Dubai for 30 days. There is a grace period of 10 days where you have to extend your visa by contacting a travel agency like Arabiers or exit the country.

After the 10 days grace period, you will be considered to have overstayed and thus pay fines. You will incur a fine of 50 AED for the first day of overstaying and an additional 50 AED for each subsequent day. Additionally, when exiting the UAE, you will need to pay an exit permit fee ranging from 250 to 350 AED.

How to Extend your on-arrival Dubai Visa:

After entering Dubai from the UK on the 30 days on arrival visa, you can extend your stay by any of the below options.

Oman Visa Run

If your 30 days on arrival visa expired before renewing it, you have to exit the country and reenter to get a new visa.

Basically, you need to leave the country where you got the visa in the first place UAE so that you can continue to stay. A new 30-day on-arrival visa is issued every time the individual exits and enters the country.

There is no limit to the number of 30 days on-arrival visas issued per person annually. NOTE: Rejecting or issuing a visa is the sole discretion of the Dubai Immigration authorities.

Dubai Visa Extension

You won't need to leave the country to get your visa extended for the UAE. The on-arrival visa is valid for thirty days and can be extended through immigration services for a fee of 1000 AED. You will receive an extension of 30 days, including a grace period of 10 days.

In country Visa Change

The other way to extend your stay in Dubai is through the in-country visa status change, but it is more expensive than the other two, which allows you to stay in UAE for more than 30 days.

You are not required to leave the country or go to any immigration office to obtain an inside-country visa. Rather, you are required to get in touch with a reputable travel agency like Arabiers to issue inside-country visas.As you relax on the beach during your vacation in Dubai, you will be issued a new tourist visa valid for either 30 or 90 days.

Change to Residence or Employment Visa

Alternately, you can change your visit visa into a residence visa or employment visa to extend your stay for longer.

If you are a UK national who has arrived in the country and have a visit visa that is set to expire in 30 days, you have the option to either extend your visa or convert it into a residence visa or an employment visa to obtain additional time to remain.

If you want someone else to file for your residence visa on your behalf, you will require a sponsor like your employer, a travel agency, spouse, or another individual.

It is essential to note that, in most instances, you will not be able to submit an application for your resident visa.

The employer will submit an application for a residence visa on your behalf to the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) of the emirate where you will be living.

Extension Prices

The cost of extending your UAE visit visa may vary depending on the following:

Same Visa Extension

900 AED to 1000 AED (245 USD - 275 USD)

In country 30 days

1100 AED to 1200 AED (300 USD - 330 USD)

In country 90 days 0

between 1500 AED to 1600 AED (410 USD - 440 USD)