Quick answer
Yes. Most Indian passport holders need a UAE tourist visa before travel. It is applied for through a UAE-based airline, a licensed travel agent or hotel, or online with ICP or GDRFA Dubai. A Dubai single-entry tourist visa costs AED 200 for 30 days or AED 300 for 60 days, plus 5% VAT and small service fees. Indians who hold a valid residence permit from the US, an EU country, the UK, Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand or Canada can get a visa on arrival instead.
UAE visa for Indians at a glance
| Visa needed for tourism? | Yes, for most Indians. Apply before travel through an airline, a licensed agent, a hotel or online.1 |
|---|---|
| Tourist visa options (Dubai) | 30 or 60 days, single or multiple entry2 |
| Fee (Dubai single entry) | AED 200 (30 days) or AED 300 (60 days), plus 5% VAT, AED 10 Knowledge Dirham and AED 10 Innovation Dirham2 |
| Fee (Dubai multiple entry) | AED 300 (30 days) or AED 500 (60 days), plus 5% VAT and the same service fees3 |
| Processing | 48 hours (GDRFA Dubai)2 |
| Visa on arrival | Only for Indians holding a valid residence permit from the US, EU, UK, Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand or Canada4 |
| Passport validity | At least 6 months from the date of entry5 |
Visa options for Indian passport holders
Tourist visa, single entry (sponsored)12
- Who can use it
- Any Indian passport holder. The sponsor must be a UAE tourism establishment such as an airline, licensed travel agent or hotel.
- Stay
- 30 or 60 days
- Entries
- Single
- Fee
- AED 200 (30 days) or AED 300 (60 days), plus 5% VAT, AED 10 Knowledge Dirham and AED 10 Innovation Dirham (GDRFA Dubai). An extra AED 500 applies if the applicant is already inside the UAE.
- Processing time
- 48 hours
- Where to apply
- A UAE-based airline, licensed travel agent or hotel; or online via ICP (smartservices.icp.gov.ae) or GDRFA Dubai (smart.gdrfa.gov.ae)
- Good to know
- Fees shown are GDRFA Dubai's published fees. Abu Dhabi and other emirates issue through ICP.
Tourist visa, multiple entry (sponsored)3
- Who can use it
- Any Indian passport holder sponsored by a UAE tourism establishment
- Stay
- 30 or 60 days
- Entries
- Multiple
- Fee
- AED 300 (30 days) or AED 500 (60 days), plus 5% VAT, AED 10 Knowledge Dirham and AED 10 Innovation Dirham (GDRFA Dubai)
- Processing time
- 48 hours
- Where to apply
- A licensed UAE tourism establishment, or GDRFA Dubai online
- Good to know
- Needs valid health insurance and an onward travel document.
Visit visa sponsored by a relative or friend living in Dubai6
- Who can use it
- Relatives or friends of a UAE citizen or resident. The host must show proof of relationship and a salary certificate or contract.
- Stay
- 30, 60 or 90 days
- Fee
- AED 200 (30 days), AED 300 (60 days) or AED 400 (90 days), plus 5% VAT, medical insurance AED 40 to 90, and a refundable security deposit of AED 1,000 (plus AED 20 service and AED 40 collection fees)
- Processing time
- 48 hours
- Where to apply
- The host applies through GDRFA Dubai
- Good to know
- Documents include two photos, passport with 6 months validity, and relationship proof such as a marriage or birth certificate.
Visa on arrival (Indians with qualifying residence permits)478
- Who can use it
- Indian ordinary passport holders with a valid residence permit from the US, an EU country, the UK, Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand or Canada
- Stay
- 14 days (extendable once) or 60 days (not extendable)
- Entries
- 60-day visa is single entry
- Fee
- AED 100 (14 days) or AED 250 (60 days)
- Processing time
- At the UAE entry point
- Where to apply
- On arrival at any UAE entry point
- Good to know
- Passport and residence permit must each have at least 6 months validity (GDRFA). Overstay fine is AED 50 per day.
5-year multiple entry tourist visa (self-sponsored)1
- Who can use it
- All nationalities who meet the financial conditions
- Stay
- 90 days per visit, extendable once by 90 days
- Validity
- 5 years
- Entries
- Multiple
- Where to apply
- ICP or GDRFA Dubai online, or UAE airlines, licensed agents and hotels
- Good to know
- Needs a bank balance of USD 4,000 or equivalent over the last 6 months, UAE-valid health insurance, and a return or onward ticket.
Documents to prepare
- Passport valid for at least 6 months from the date of entry.52
- One personal photo and a passport copy for a sponsored tourist visa.2
- Multiple-entry tourist visa also needs valid health insurance and an onward travel document.3
- Visa on arrival: passport and the qualifying residence permit must each be valid for at least 6 months, plus a photo with a white background.8
Before you fly and on arrival
- Eligible Indians can get a visa on arrival at any UAE entry point if they hold a qualifying residence permit.74
Applying from Kerala
- There is no embassy or visa-centre step for a tourist visa. Apply through a UAE-based airline (Emirates, Etihad, flydubai), a licensed travel agent, or your UAE hotel, or online with ICP or GDRFA Dubai.1
- If a relative lives in Dubai, they can sponsor your visit visa through GDRFA Dubai from inside the UAE.6
Extending your stay
- The 14-day visa on arrival can be extended once while in the UAE. The 60-day visa on arrival cannot be extended.4
- Overstaying a visa on arrival costs AED 50 per day.4
- The 5-year tourist visa allows 90 days per visit, extendable once for another 90 days.1
What changed recently
- 13 February 2025: Visa on arrival for Indians expanded to holders of residence permits from Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea and Singapore, in addition to the US, EU and UK.7
- 25 June 2026: ICP added six more nationalities to the visa-on-arrival scheme that previously covered only India. It lists a 14-day visa (AED 100, extendable once) and a 60-day visa (AED 250, not extendable).4
How Albah Holidays can help
- We handle UAE visit visa applications from our office in Kozhikode — we tell you the exact documents for your visa type and submit the application.
- Our Dubai tour package includes UAE tourist visa assistance, hotels and sightseeing, with flights on request.
- Flights from Calicut, Kannur or Kochi, hotels and travel insurance — booked together with us.
- Send your passport copy and travel dates on WhatsApp, or visit our office in Eranhipalam, Kozhikode.
- Flights to UAE from Calicut, Kannur or Kochi, booked with your visa so the dates line up and the name on the ticket matches the passport.
Frequently asked questions
Do Indians need a visa for the UAE?
Yes, most do. You apply before travel through a UAE airline, a licensed travel agent, a hotel, or online with ICP or GDRFA Dubai.1
How much does a Dubai tourist visa cost?
A single-entry visa is AED 200 for 30 days or AED 300 for 60 days. Add 5% VAT plus AED 10 Knowledge Dirham and AED 10 Innovation Dirham.2
Can Indians get a UAE visa on arrival?
Only if you hold a valid residence permit from the US, an EU country, the UK, Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand or Canada. The 14-day visa costs AED 100 and the 60-day visa costs AED 250.4
How long does processing take?
GDRFA Dubai states 48 hours for tourist visas.2
Can my relative in the UAE sponsor my visit?
Yes. A relative or friend living in Dubai can apply for a 30, 60 or 90-day visit visa for you through GDRFA Dubai. A refundable AED 1,000 deposit applies.6
Official sources
- Tourist visa — UAE Government portal (u.ae). Page updated 2026-08-10; checked 24 September 2026.
- Issuance of a single-entry tourist visa — GDRFA Dubai. Page updated 2026-09-23; checked 24 September 2026.
- Issuing a tourist visa for several entries — GDRFA Dubai. Page updated 2026-09-23; checked 24 September 2026.
- Six New Nationalities and Six Additional Countries of Residence Added to Eligibility Criteria — Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Port Security (ICP). Page updated 2026-06-25; checked 24 September 2026.
- Check if you need a visa to enter the UAE — UAE Government portal (u.ae). Page updated 2026-07-13; checked 24 September 2026.
- Issuing a visit visa for a relative or friend for one entry — GDRFA Dubai. Page updated 2026-09-23; checked 24 September 2026.
- UAE Expands Visa on Arrival for Indian Nationals — UAE Embassy in New Delhi (MOFA). Page updated 2025-02-19; checked 24 September 2026.
- Visa on arrival for citizens of the Republic of India — GDRFA Dubai. Page updated 2026-09-23; checked 24 September 2026.
Rules, fees and processing times can change without notice. Every fact on this page was checked against the official sources above on 24 September 2026. Confirm before you travel — we recheck the current rules for every application we handle.