How to apply for Dubai tourist visa as application process eased

Dubai is streamlining its visa application process to bolster its standing as a premier global tourism hub. Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed unveiled a plan that includes a tourist loyalty programme and the consolidation of visa services onto the city's official tourism platform, Visit Dubai.

Applicants can now obtain single-entry, multiple-entry tourist visas, as well as long-term multiple-entry visas, through Visit Dubai. Future visa categories are anticipated. All these services are provided through a unified platform, eliminating the need to navigate multiple sites and applications.

The platform complements visitors' journey, offering information and tools for attractions, experiences, ticket booking, event exploration, and itinerary planning. Dubai's visa offerings cater to various travel purposes, from short holidays and family visits to business trips and transit stopovers.

The city's tourist visas include 30-day and 60-day single-entry visas for one-time visits. Multiple-entry tourist visas are also available, allowing visits multiple times within the visa's validity period.

Applicants must submit a valid passport, a recent passport-size photo, proof of onward travel, and UAE medical insurance. On arrival, they might need to provide hotel booking details and additional identification documents, depending on their nationality.

Visa fees are Dh200 for a 30-day visa and Dh300 for a 60-day visa, excluding VAT and service charges. For multiple-entry visas, the fees are Dh300 for a 30-day visa and Dh500 for a 60-day visa. A UAE-based entity, such as a licensed travel agency, sponsors these visas.

Dubai also offers a five-year multiple-entry tourist visa for frequent visitors, allowing stays of up to 180 days within a year, with each visit generally limited to 90 days. No UAE-based sponsor is required for this visa.

Beyond tourist visas, the UAE provides various other visit visas, including those for relatives and friends, residents of the UAE, and entertainment and event attendees. The UAE also offers a maritime tourism visa for cruise ship and leisure boat travelers.

Certain nationalities can obtain a visa on arrival or enjoy visa-free entry into the UAE, with stay durations ranging from 30 to 90 days. Transit visas are also available for short stays.