30 days new tourist visa
Airport to Airport visa change return flight ticket
Destination 
Verified In short: Most UAE tourist visas can be extended twice, 30 days each time, without leaving the country, from 990 AED through Arabiers. If you've used both extensions, an airport-to-airport visa change (fly out, new visa issued airside, fly back the same day) gets you a fresh 30 or 60-day visa from 1,600-1900 AED. There is no longer a grace period after expiry: overstay fines of AED 50/day start the day after your visa ends.
Written & verified by Sohail Ahmed, UAE Visa & Travel Operations Manager, processing UAE visitor visas at Arabiers since 2017.
Reviewed 12 June 2026 · 14 min read · Sources: ICP, GDRFA Dubai, u.ae
An in-country extension through Arabiers starts at 990 AED for on-arrival visa holders. If you need a brand-new visa instead, because you've used both extensions or your visa type can't be extended, an airport-to-airport visa change costs from 1,590 AED including the return flight ticket. All fees below are Arabiers' all-inclusive service prices in AED; government fee components can change, so we re-verify this table on every review date.
| Option | Who it's for | Exit required? | Fee (AED) | Typical processing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30-day extension | On-arrival visa holders only | No | 990 | ~4 hours |
| 30-day extension | Prepaid visa holders only | No | 1,190 | ~8 hours |
| 30-day new tourist visa (airport-to-airport change) | All nationalities | Yes, same-day fly-out & return (flight ticket included) | 1,690 - 1790 | Same day |
| 60-day new tourist visa (airport-to-airport change) | All nationalities | Yes, same-day fly-out & return (flight ticket included) | 1,790 - 1985 | Same day |
| 30-day express visa | Travellers exiting via a land border or to another country | Yes, border or onward exit | 789 | 4–8 hours |
| 60-day express visa | Travellers exiting via a land border or to another country | Yes, border or onward exit | 989 | 4–8 hours |
Payment accepted: Mastercard, Visa, Apple Pay, Google Pay. Prices include Arabiers service fees; no hidden charges at delivery.
30 days new tourist visa
Airport to Airport visa change return flight ticket
60 days new tourist visa
Airport to Airport visa change return flight ticket
30 days express visa
Travelers who exit Boarder & other country
60 days express visa
Travelers who exit Boarder & other country
Yes — visa-on-arrival stamps can be extended without leaving the UAE. Your options depend on whether your nationality receives a 30-day or 90-day stay on arrival, set by the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Port Security (ICP).
Citizens of Andorra, Australia, Brunei, Canada, China, Hong Kong (China), Japan, Kazakhstan, Macau (China), Malaysia, Mauritius, Monaco, New Zealand, Republic of Ireland, San Marino, Singapore, Ukraine, United States of America, Vatican City, and the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland receive a free 30-day visa on arrival. (Source: ICP — list subject to change; verify before travel.)
Option 1 — Extend the same on-arrival visa. Pay 990 AED to extend your 30-day on-arrival visa by 30 days from inside the country. Note: the 10-day grace period that previously followed expiry was withdrawn in October 2024, fines now start the day after your visa ends, so apply before the printed expiry date.
Option 2 — Airport-to-airport visa change. Fly out and return the same day on a new 30 or 60-day visa (from 1,590 AED, flight included). This resets your stay rather than extending it, the right move if you've already extended twice.
Countries valid for the 90 days free multi entry on arrival visa include, Argentina, Austria, Bahamas Islands, Barbados, Belgium, Bulgaria, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, El-Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Kiribati, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Maldives, Malta, Montenegro, Nauru, Netherlands, Norway, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Serbia, Seychelles, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and Uruguay.
Here are the visa extension options for travelers with the 90 days on arrival visa to the UAE :
This is the most economic visa extension options for 90 days visa holders. Contact Arabiers and then settle on an exit date few days to your visa expiry. Exit the UAE to a nearing country like Oman by road. Arabiers will then apply for a UAE express visa valid for 30 or 60 days depending on your instructions. We will then send the e-visa via email and you can get back to the country.
Consider an airport to airport visa change from UAE to a neighboring country like Oman to extend your 90 days on-arrival visa. Contact Arabiers, who will organize your flight tickets to Oman. Exit the UAE to Oman and chill in the airport for an hour and then board a plane back to the UAE. Arabiers will apply for the express 30- or 60-days express e-visa on your visa and will be handed to you when you land back into the UAE.
To apply for a UAE tourist visa extension, your passport must be valid for at least 6 months. If your passport is close to expiry and you cannot renew it in time, an extension cannot be processed on any route. In that case, contact your embassy in the UAE to renew the passport; you can then exit and re-enter on a new tourist visa with the new document. Our desk can sequence the exit and re-entry around your embassy appointment so you stay within your visa validity.
Nationalities not eligible for visa on arrival enter the UAE on a prepaid (pre-arranged) visa obtained before travel, through an airline, a tour operator or an agency like Arabiers. Prepaid visa holders have three routes to stay longer:
| Method | How it works | Exit needed? | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Extend the prepaid visa | Extend in-country, 30 days per extension, up to twice, giving up to 60 additional days without exiting. | No | Travellers who want the simplest, cheapest route and haven't extended twice yet. |
| Exit and come back | Exit by air to a nearby country (or via the established Oman route, Oman now requires a pre-entry visa arranged in advance), obtain a new prepaid UAE visa, and return. Arabiers processes the new express visa in 4–8 hours. | Yes | Travellers combining the reset with a short side trip. |
| Airport-to-airport visa change | Fly to the nearest regional airport, wait airside for a few hours while we process your new express UAE visa, and fly straight back in. We arrange the transfer flights and the visa as one package. | Yes (same day, airside only) | Travellers who've used both extensions and need the fastest legal reset. |
Yes. When a residence visa is cancelled, UAE immigration grants a 30-day grace period to settle your affairs, tenancy contracts, bank accounts, utilities, and either exit or change status. (Source: u.ae, UAE Government portal.)
If you want to stay beyond the grace period, for a job switch, family time or an extended visit, you can obtain a tourist visa without leaving the country via an in-country status change, or via an airport-to-airport change if you prefer a full reset. Our desk handles both for departing residents weekly.
Always confirm your extension directly in the government system, never rely solely on a paper or PDF copy from any agent. Unfortunately, visa-extension scams exist, and the immigration database is the only source of truth. Checking takes two minutes:
If the new expiry date doesn't appear within your provider's stated processing time, contact them immediately, and verify any agency's trade licence before paying (ours is DET Trade Licence 1176592, verifiable with Dubai Economy & Tourism).
The UAE operates a unified federal visa system, but two authorities administer it: the GDRFA (General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs) handles Dubai-issued visas, while the ICP (Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Port Security) handles Abu Dhabi and the other Emirates, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah.
The practical differences are procedural, which portal you use and minor documentation steps, not legal. Crucially, a tourist visa issued by any Emirate can be extended twice regardless of where you're staying. If you're unsure which authority issued your visa, the visa file number format tells us instantly, send it to our desk and we'll route the application correctly.
The UAE applies a flat overstay fine of AED 50 per day for both tourists and residents, a unified rate effective 11 February 2026, replacing the older tiered system. Fines accrue from the day after your visa (or grace period, where applicable) expires.
| Charge | Amount (AED) | When it applies |
|---|---|---|
| Daily overstay fine | 50 / day | Every day past visa expiry, tourists and residents alike |
| Exit permit fee | 250–350 | Payable on departure when leaving with an overstay on record |
These are the rules in force as of our last verification date, each with its official source:
| Rule | What it means for you | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Family-sponsored 90-day tourist visa | UAE residents can sponsor family and friends for up to 90 days, applied via the GDRFA website, app, or an Amer centre. Extension details are confirmed per file by UAE immigration. | ICP |
| 30- and 60-day tourist visas, single or multiple entry | The 60-day visa (introduced 3 October 2022) replaced the old 90-day tourist option; all nationalities can apply, and both durations are extendable. | ICP |
| Status change after residence cancellation | If your residence permit is cancelled, you can obtain a tourist visa with or without exiting; the in-country status change keeps you legal without travelling. | GDRFA |
| Oman route requires a pre-entry visa | Since 1 November 2019, all nationalities entering Oman by road must hold a pre-arranged Omani visa, plan it in advance if using the Oman run to reset your UAE visa. | Royal Oman Police, reported by The National |
| Pre-applied visa on arrival for Indian nationals | Indian citizens holding a valid USA visa, or EU/UK residence permit, qualify for a 14-day pre-applied visa on arrival (USD 53), extendable once for 14 days at an immigration fee. Apply via the GDRFA website before travel. | GDRFA, reported by Gulf News |
Tourist visa holders who repeatedly extend back-to-back may have further applications refused. Check your current status before re-applying, or wait 30 days outside the UAE before submitting a new application. (Observed at our visa desk and confirmed in immigration processing outcomes, verified by Sohail Ahmed.)
The 10-day grace period previously offered to 30-day on-arrival visa holders was removed. Your stay now ends on the printed expiry date, and extensions must be applied for during the visa's validity. The authorities stated the change maintains border security and order. (Source: ICP announcement, October 2024.)
The 96-hour mission entry visa (introduced 2020 for short business visits) is non-extendable and non-renewable. Once the 96 hours expire, the holder must exit. (Source: ICP visa types directory.)
Updated extension rules apply to residents of GCC countries (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia): not all visa types can be extended; supporting documents proving the purpose of the extension (employment proof, financial stability, ongoing business) may be required; tourist and business visa holders can usually request one 30-day extension; mission entry visa holders cannot extend; and no grace period applies. (Source: ICP — GCC residents' entry rules.)
No. The grace period for tourist visas was withdrawn in October 2024. Fines of AED 50/day begin the day after the visa's printed expiry. He should apply to extend (or book an airport-to-airport change) before that date.
Apply for an in-country extension at least 5 days before expiry (990–1,190 AED depending on your visa type, processed in 4–8 hours), or book an airport-to-airport visa change for a new 30/60-day visa. Either route keeps you fine-free as long as it completes before your current expiry date.
Usually yes. Most tourist visas can be extended twice, 30 days each time, giving roughly 60 extra days without exiting. If your visa type can't be extended twice, a 60-day new visa via airport-to-airport change (1,790 AED, flight included) covers the same period in one step.
No, the 5-year multiple-entry tourist visa is a separate application with its own requirements (including financial proof), not an extension of a 60-day visa. It's applied for through the ICP; we can prepare the application, but approval and any exit requirement are determined by immigration on a per-file basis.
It's the return flight used for an airport-to-airport visa change, you fly to a nearby airport, your new UAE visa is processed while you wait airside, and you fly back the same day. Our 1,590/1,790 AED A2A packages include this ticket.
No deposits are required for Arabiers extension or visa-change services. You pay the quoted package fee only, by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay. Be cautious of any provider asking for refundable "security deposits" on extensions.
Yes. Exiting and re-entering on a new visa is always an option, and for some travellers it's cheaper than extending. If your nationality gets a visa on arrival, you simply re-enter; otherwise we can issue a new prepaid visa before you return, typically within 4–8 hours for express applications.
AED 50 per day, flat rate, for tourists and residents alike (effective 11 February 2026), plus an exit permit fee of roughly AED 250–350 when departing with an overstay on record.
Online through the ICP smart services portal or the GDRFA website/app before you travel, or in person at the Airport Immigration Department before passport control. Online payment in advance is faster and avoids missed-flight risk.
A2A changes are submitted as pre-approved applications, we confirm approval before you board the outbound flight, so you are not flying on hope. In the rare case a new visa is refused, you remain outside the UAE rather than overstaying inside it, and government fees for refused applications are non-refundable.
The return flight ticket to the nearby airport, the new 30 or 60-day UAE visa, our processing and follow-up with immigration, and timing coordination so your airside wait is as short as possible, typically a few hours.
Legal and fee facts on this page are drawn from official UAE Government sources. Practical guidance reflects Arabiers' own visa-desk operations and is clearly labelled as such.
Sohail oversees the processing of UAE visitor visas, Dubai express, tourist and urgent applications, in line with GDRFA and ICP requirements, and verifies Arabiers' visa guides before publication. With Arabiers since 2017, working across the Dubai, Delhi, Colombo and Doha offices.
in · View LinkedIn profile · Author pageThis guide is general information verified by Arabiers' UAE Visa & Travel Operations Manager, it is not legal advice. Visa rules are set by the UAE Government and can change without notice; confirm current requirements on ICP (icp.gov.ae) or GDRFA (gdrfad.gov.ae) before acting. Last reviewed 12 June 2026.