Dubai Visa for Indian Citizens: Visa on Arrival, Fees & Rules

Yes, an Indian citizen on an ordinary passport needs a visa to visit Dubai or anywhere else in the UAE. If you already hold a valid US visa or green card, or a residence permit from the UK, an EU country or one of several other approved countries, you qualify for a short entry visa linked to that document. Everyone else needs a tourist or visit visa arranged before travel through a UAE-based sponsor such as an airline, a licensed tour operator or hotel, or a relative living in the UAE.

Which route applies to you

There are two broad paths for Indian passport holders.

Route one: you hold a valid US visa, US green card, UK or EU visa or residence permit, or a residence permit from Japan, South Korea, Australia, Canada, Singapore or New Zealand. You can use the UAE entry visa for Indian nationals described below.
Route two: you hold none of those documents. You need a pre-arranged tourist or visit visa sponsored from inside the UAE before you fly.

There are no UAE tourist visa appointments at an embassy or visa centre in India. Visit visas are issued electronically, lodged by or for a sponsor in the UAE.

Route one: the entry visa for Indians with US, UK, EU and other permits

The Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) widened the list of qualifying residence countries to include Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand and Canada, alongside the United States, the EU and the UK. In a release dated 25 June 2026 ICP confirmed that India remains an eligible nationality and that the scheme now also covers several other nationalities.

According to ICP's service page, Indian ordinary passport holders and their family members qualify if they hold one of the following:

A valid visa, residence permit or green card issued by the United States.
A valid visa or residence permit issued by an EU member state or the United Kingdom.
A valid residence permit issued by Japan, South Korea, Australia, Canada, Singapore or New Zealand.

Note the difference in the second group: a tourist visa from Japan or Canada, for example, does not count, only a residence permit does.

Stay options and fees

As of October 2026, ICP lists two stay lengths under this scheme:

14-day visa: base fee AED 100, extendable once for a further 14 days while you are in the UAE.
60-day visa: base fee AED 250, single entry and not extendable.

These are base fees. Service and smart-channel charges are usually added on top. ICP's own page for the 60-day visa itemises an issuance fee of AED 250 plus a smart services fee of AED 100, a total of AED 350. GDRFA Dubai's pre-arrival service for Indians with a US green card or UK or EU residence shows a total fee of AED 253 for the 14-day visa.

Extending the 14-day visa through GDRFA Dubai is noticeably more expensive than the initial visa. As of October 2026, GDRFA lists an extension fee of AED 600 plus 5% VAT, with further in-country charges that can apply. Choose the right stay length from the start.

Conditions to check before you fly

Your Indian passport must be valid for at least six months from the date you enter the UAE.
GDRFA Dubai also asks that your US green card or visa, or your UK or EU residence visa, has at least six months of validity left.
You need a passport-style photo with a white background if you apply online in advance.
You must not be subject to any UAE entry ban.

Many travellers receive this visa on arrival, but GDRFA Dubai also offers it as an online application before travel, with a stated completion time of 48 hours and the visa sent by email. ICP's 60-day version is applied for through ICP's smart services, with a stated processing time of two days and 30 days to enter after issue. Airlines check eligibility at check-in in India, so carry the physical US, UK, EU or other document, not a photocopy.

Route two: a pre-arranged tourist or visit visa

If you do not hold a qualifying third-country document, you need a visa issued before you board. The usual ways Indian travellers obtain one are:

Through the airline. Emirates, flydubai and Etihad are listed on the official UAE government portal as visa service providers for passengers flying with them.
Through a licensed UAE tour operator or hotel. Tourist visas are sponsored by establishments in the UAE tourism sector, and GDRFA Dubai states that only accredited tourism offices can issue them. Indian travel agents usually work through such a UAE partner.
Through a relative or friend living in the UAE. A UAE resident can sponsor a visit visa if they meet ICP's income and kinship rules.

Tourist visa lengths and multiple entry

GDRFA Dubai lists tourist visas sponsored by tourism establishments in two forms, each for 30 or 60 days. As of October 2026 its published fees are:

Single-entry tourist visa: AED 200 for 30 days or AED 300 for 60 days, plus 5% VAT.
Multiple-entry tourist visa: AED 300 for 30 days or AED 500 for 60 days, plus 5% VAT.

GDRFA notes that the final amount may vary with the applicant's circumstances, and the sponsoring company will add its own service charge. Both versions require a passport valid for six months, an onward or return ticket and medical insurance valid in the UAE. GDRFA's stated completion time is 48 hours once a complete application is lodged.

Visits sponsored by family or friends

ICP's visit visa for relatives and friends can be issued for 30, 60 or 90 days, with extensions possible up to a total stay of 120 days. The UAE resident must meet a minimum monthly income: AED 4,000 for first-degree relatives, AED 8,000 for second and third-degree relatives and AED 15,000 for friends. They also need proof of kinship and a refundable financial guarantee, which ICP sets at AED 1,000 for single entry and AED 2,000 for multiple entry.

Dubai (GDRFA) versus other emirates (ICP)

The UAE has two immigration systems, and that matters for where your visa is processed.

GDRFA Dubai, the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs, handles visas sponsored in Dubai.
ICP handles visas for the other emirates, including Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ajman, Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain.

Once admitted you can travel between emirates, so a Dubai-issued visa still allows a day trip to Abu Dhabi. The difference is administrative: fees, portals and extension rules differ slightly. If your sponsor or hotel is in Dubai, the GDRFA rules apply; if you are flying into Abu Dhabi on a visa sponsored there, look at ICP.

Documents Indian travellers should prepare

Sponsors and airlines will ask for the basics.

A clear scan of your passport's photo page, with at least six months' validity remaining.
A recent colour photo with a white background.
A confirmed return or onward air ticket.
Medical insurance valid in the UAE, required for tourist and visit visas.
Hotel booking or the address of the relative you are staying with.
For route one, your valid US, UK, EU or other qualifying visa, green card or residence permit.
For family-sponsored visits, proof of relationship and the sponsor's documents.

Immigration officers can ask for evidence of funds or accommodation on arrival, so keep bookings and a recent bank statement to hand even if nobody requested them in advance.

Overstay fines and visa conditions

Leave the UAE before your permitted stay ends. ICP lists an overstay fine of AED 50 per day for staying beyond the permitted period or on an expired entry visa. A tourist or visit visa does not allow you to work.

Watch out for fake visa agents

Fake websites and agents targeting Indian travellers charge for visas that never arrive, and some job offers come with only a visit visa.

Apply through the official GDRFA or ICP portals, your airline, or a well-established UAE tour operator.
Check that the visa you receive matches your passport details and can be verified.
Do not hand over your passport or pay in cash to someone you cannot trace.
Be suspicious of anyone promising a job, a guaranteed visa or a work permit on a tourist visa.

Frequently asked questions

Can Indians get a visa on arrival in Dubai?

Only if they hold a qualifying document: a valid US visa or green card, a UK or EU visa or residence permit, or a residence permit from Japan, South Korea, Australia, Canada, Singapore or New Zealand. Other Indian passport holders must arrange a visa before travel.

How much does a Dubai tourist visa cost for Indians?

As of October 2026, GDRFA Dubai lists AED 200 for a 30-day single-entry tourist visa and AED 300 for 60 days, plus VAT. Airlines and tour operators add their own service charges, so the price you are quoted will be higher.

Does a US tourist visa let me enter Dubai without a separate visa?

A valid US visa makes you eligible for the UAE entry visa for Indians, but you still receive a UAE visa and pay its fee. Check the remaining validity rules on the official page before flying.

Can I extend my Dubai visa without leaving the UAE?

The 14-day visa for Indians with qualifying permits can be extended once, and tourist visas have extension and renewal services listed by GDRFA. The 60-day entry visa under the Indian scheme cannot be extended.

Can I look for a job in Dubai on a tourist visa?

You cannot work on a tourist visa. The UAE has separate job-exploration visit visas, and any job must come with a proper work permit and residence visa issued by the authorities.

Rules and fees for the UAE change frequently and can differ between Dubai and the other emirates. Before booking, confirm the current requirements on the official UAE government portal, the ICP website or GDRFA Dubai, and check with your airline that your visa or qualifying document will be accepted at check-in.