Dubai Transit Visa 2026: 48 & 96-Hour Rules, Price and Requirements
A Dubai transit visa lets a passenger on a connecting flight leave the airport for up to 48 or 96 hours. You need one if you are not visa-free or eligible for visa on arrival and want to leave the terminal. It is single-entry, cannot be extended, and requires a confirmed onward ticket to a third country. At Buy Tourist Visa, the 48-hour visa costs AED 500 and the 96-hour visa costs AED 540, with processing in 2 to 4 days.
This guide explains who needs a UAE transit visa, how the 48-hour and 96-hour options differ, the documents required, the price and how to apply online for your Dubai visa. It is checked against the UAE government's transit visa page and our current visa listings.
Key facts | 48-Hour Transit Visa | 96-Hour Transit Visa |
|---|---|---|
Permitted stay | 48 hours from entry | 96 hours (4 days) from entry |
Total fee | AED 500 | AED 540 |
Processing time | 2 to 4 days | 2 to 4 days |
Visa validity | 14 days from issue | 14 days from issue |
Entry and extension | Single entry, not extendable | Single entry, not extendable |
Required ticket | Confirmed onward ticket to a third country | Confirmed onward ticket to a third country |
Delivery | E-visa by email (PDF) | E-visa by email (PDF) |
What Is a Dubai Transit Visa?
A Dubai transit visa is a short-stay UAE visa for passengers connecting to a third country who want to leave the airport during their layover. The UAE issues two versions: a 48-hour transit visa and a 96-hour transit visa. The hours count from the time you clear UAE immigration.
Both versions are single-entry and cannot be extended. Both are strictly for onward travel: you arrive and depart through a UAE airport and hold a confirmed ticket to your next destination. A transit visa is not a tourist visa, and it does not cover a round trip that starts and ends in the same country.
According to the UAE government portal, transit visas are arranged through UAE-based airlines, travel agencies or airport hotels, and they must be approved before you enter the UAE.
Do You Need a Transit Visa for a Dubai Airport Layover?
You need a transit visa if you want to leave the airport and you are not eligible for visa-free entry or visa on arrival. If you stay in the transit area and connect to your next flight inside the terminal, you do not need a UAE visa for most itineraries.
Your situation | Do you need a transit visa? |
|---|---|
You stay in the transit area and board your next flight | No, in most cases |
You want to leave the airport and your passport allows visa-free entry to the UAE | No, you can enter without a visa |
You want to leave the airport and you qualify for visa on arrival | No, use your visa on arrival |
You want to leave the airport and need a visa to enter the UAE | Yes, apply for a 48-hour or 96-hour transit visa before you travel |
Your onward flight leaves more than 96 hours after you land | A transit visa does not cover the stay, so you need a tourist visa |
The visa works for a layover through any UAE airport, including Dubai International Airport (DXB) and Abu Dhabi. If you are not sure which category applies to your passport, our team can confirm it before you apply.
48-Hour vs 96-Hour Dubai Transit Visa: Which Should You Choose?
Choose the visa that covers the time between landing and your onward flight. The 48-hour visa allows up to two days outside the airport, and the 96-hour visa allows up to four. Both require an onward ticket and neither can be extended.
Choose the 48-hour transit visa if
Your layover is between 8 and 48 hours in Dubai or Abu Dhabi.
You want a city tour between flights, such as the Burj Khalifa, Dubai Mall or the old souks.
You have a one-night business stopover.
You are breaking up a long-haul journey with your family.
Choose the 96-hour transit visa if
You plan a stopover of two to four days.
Your next flight leaves more than 48 hours after you land.
Your airline offers a stopover programme, or you are deliberately splitting a journey in two.
You want enough time for a desert safari, a day in Abu Dhabi and an evening in Dubai.
You can view the full details of each visa on our 48-hour Dubai transit visa and 96-hour Dubai transit visa pages. Transit visas cannot be extended or converted, so if you expect to stay longer than 96 hours, choose one of our tourist visa options from the start.
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Dubai Transit Visa Requirements
The Dubai transit visa requirements are the same for the 48-hour and 96-hour visas. You apply online and upload your documents, and the e-visa is emailed to you once UAE immigration approves it.
Documents you need
Passport: a clear colour scan of the bio-data page, valid for at least 6 months.
Photograph: a recent passport-size photo with a plain white background.
Onward ticket: a confirmed flight ticket to a third country, showing your UAE layover.
Hotel booking: required if you plan to stay overnight.
UAE immigration can request additional documents depending on your nationality and travel history.
Rules to know before you apply
A confirmed onward ticket to a third country is mandatory.
The visa is single-entry and ends when you leave the UAE.
You must use the visa within 14 days of issue.
Your onward flight must leave within your 48-hour or 96-hour window.
Overstaying a transit visa results in fines and can affect future UAE visas.
Planning a longer stay instead? Our Dubai tourist visa requirements guide covers the documents for 30-, 60- and 90-day visas.
Dubai Transit Visa Price and Cost
The Dubai transit visa price at Buy Tourist Visa is AED 500 for the 48-hour visa and AED 540 for the 96-hour visa. Both are total fees that include the government visa charge and our service charge, and you see the final amount at checkout before you pay.
Transit visa | Permitted stay | Total fee |
|---|---|---|
48-hour transit visa | 48 hours from entry | AED 500 |
96-hour transit visa | 96 hours from entry | AED 540 |
Prices are the current listed fees and can change, so confirm the total on the application page. For tourist visa fees, see our Dubai tourist visa price guide.
Dubai Transit Visa for Indians
Indian passport holders who want to leave the airport on a Dubai layover need a transit visa unless they qualify for visa on arrival. The same documents and fees apply as for every other nationality.
One rule matters most for travellers from India: your onward ticket must go to a third country. A ticket back to India does not qualify, because a transit visa is for passengers travelling onward, not for a round trip. For example, a journey from India to Dubai and on to Europe or North America works, while India to Dubai and back to India does not.
Some Indian citizens with qualifying US, EU or other residence documents can use visa on arrival instead. Our guide to the Dubai visa on arrival for Indians explains who qualifies.
Emirates Transit Visa vs Applying Through a Travel Agency
The UAE government lists three ways to arrange a transit visa: through a UAE-based airline, a travel agency or an airport hotel. Emirates and Etihad both offer transit visa services for their passengers, and the government portal links to both.
If you prefer to arrange your visa online yourself, you can apply with Buy Tourist Visa, a DTCM-licensed travel services company. You submit your passport, photograph and onward ticket, pay the total fee online, and receive the e-visa by email. Our visa experts are available 24/7 by phone and WhatsApp if you have a question about your itinerary.
Whichever route you use, the rules are the same: a 48-hour or 96-hour stay, single entry, no extension, and approval before you travel.
How to Apply for a Dubai Transit Visa Online
Choose your visa: select the 48-hour or 96-hour transit visa and open the secure application form.
Upload your documents: enter your travel details and upload your passport copy, photograph and onward ticket.
Pay securely: review the total fee and pay online by card.
Receive your e-visa: once UAE immigration approves your application, the visa arrives by email as a PDF.
The process works the same way as our tourist visa applications, and our guide to applying for a Dubai visa online walks through each stage.
Apply for the 48-hour transit visa
Apply for the 96-hour transit visa
How Long Does a Dubai Transit Visa Take?
A Dubai transit visa takes 2 to 4 days to process after you submit a complete application. Apply a few days to a week before you fly, so your arrival falls inside the visa's 14-day validity window. You can follow your application with our guide to checking UAE visa status online, and our processing time guide explains what to do if a visa takes longer than expected.
48-hour transit visa vs 48-hour processing
The two "48 hours" are not related. The 48-hour transit visa describes how long you can stay in the UAE. Dubai's immigration authority has also announced processing within 48 working hours for eligible single-entry tourist visas, which describes how fast an application is handled. If you are searching for a layover visa, you want the transit visa; if you want a longer holiday visa, see our tourist visa options.
Common Mistakes to Avoid with a UAE Transit Visa
Using a ticket home as your onward ticket: the onward flight must go to a third country.
Booking the onward flight outside your window: the flight must leave within 48 or 96 hours of your entry.
Confusing validity with stay: the visa is valid for 14 days from issue, but your stay is limited to 48 or 96 hours.
Applying too late: the visa must be approved before you travel and cannot be obtained at the airport.
Expecting an extension: transit visas cannot be extended or converted, so overstaying leads to fines.
Applying when you do not need one: if you stay airside or qualify for visa on arrival, you can skip it.
Apply for Your Dubai Transit Visa
A transit visa turns a long layover into time in the city. Choose the 48-hour visa for a short stopover or the 96-hour visa for a stay of up to four days, upload your documents, and receive your e-visa by email.
Apply for the 48-hour transit visa
Apply for the 96-hour transit visa
Questions about your itinerary? Chat with a visa expert on WhatsApp.
Frequently Asked Questions
A short-stay UAE visa for passengers connecting to a third country who want to leave the airport. It comes in a 48-hour and a 96-hour version, is single-entry and cannot be extended.