UAE Visa on Arrival Countries List 2026

Citizens of 90 countries can enter the UAE without applying for a visa in advance, including the US, UK, Canada, Australia and most of Europe. A separate, conditional visa on arrival covers Indian nationals and, since 25 June 2026, nationals of Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines, Kenya and South Africa who hold residence permits from approved countries. Everyone else needs a visa before travel.

This guide is based on the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) visa tool, the MOFA and ICP announcement of 25 June 2026 and GDRFA Dubai service pages, all checked on 5 November 2026. Rules change, so confirm your own case on the official pages before you fly.

UAE Visa on Arrival at a Glance

UAE Visa on Arrival Countries List 2026

The MOFA visa tool marks the following 90 nationalities as visa free, which means you can enter the UAE, including Dubai, without applying for a visa beforehand. This is what most people mean by “Dubai visa on arrival”. The permitted stay differs by nationality, so check it with the official channels or your airline before you travel.

Europe (44)

• Albania

• Andorra

• Austria

• Belarus

• Belgium

• Bosnia and Herzegovina

• Bulgaria

• Croatia

• Cyprus

• Czech Republic

• Denmark

• Estonia

• Finland

• France

• Germany

• Greece

• Hungary

• Iceland

• Ireland

• Italy

• Kosovo

• Latvia

• Liechtenstein

• Lithuania

• Luxembourg

• Malta

• Monaco

• Montenegro

• Netherlands

• Norway

• Poland

• Portugal

• Romania

• Russia

• San Marino

• Serbia

• Slovakia

• Slovenia

• Spain

• Sweden

• Switzerland

• Ukraine

• United Kingdom

• Vatican City

Caucasus and Central Asia (5)

• Armenia

• Azerbaijan

• Georgia

• Kazakhstan

• Uzbekistan

Asia-Pacific (15)

• Australia

• Brunei

• China

• Fiji

• Hong Kong (SAR)

• Japan

• Kiribati

• Malaysia

• Maldives

• Mongolia

• Nauru

• New Zealand

• Singapore

• Solomon Islands

• South Korea

Middle East and GCC (6)

• Bahrain

• Israel

• Kuwait

• Oman

• Qatar

• Saudi Arabia

Americas (18)

• Argentina

• Bahamas

• Barbados

• Brazil

• Canada

• Chile

• Colombia

• Costa Rica

• Ecuador

• El Salvador

• Guyana

• Honduras

• Mexico

• Paraguay

• Peru

• Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

• United States

• Uruguay

Africa (2)

• Mauritius

• Seychelles

You can check any nationality on the official MOFA UAE entry requirements tool.

UAE Visa on Arrival Expansion 2026: What Changed

On 25 June 2026, the UAE expanded its visa-on-arrival programme to nationals of Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines, Kenya and South Africa, together with their accompanying family members. The announcement came from MOFA and the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Ports Security (ICP).

A passport from one of these six countries is not enough on its own. You must also hold a valid residence permit issued by one of these:

• The United States

• A European Union member state

• The United Kingdom

• Singapore

• Japan

• South Korea

• Australia

• New Zealand

• Canada

Eligible travellers can get either a 14-day or a 60-day visa on arrival. The 14-day visa can be extended once while you are in the UAE. The 60-day visa is a single stay and cannot be extended. You must leave when either visa expires, and overstaying costs AED 50 per day.

Read the full announcement on the UAE MOFA website.

UAE Visa on Arrival Cost 2026

The UAE visa on arrival costs AED 100 for the 14-day visa and AED 250 for the 60-day visa under the June 2026 scheme, according to the official announcement. The Dubai service for Indian nationals has its own fee.

The fee depends on which service you are issued under, so confirm the amount on the official page for your category before you travel. Nationalities listed as visa free do not pay a visa fee.

UAE Visa on Arrival for Indian Passport Holders

An Indian passport alone does not qualify for a UAE visa on arrival. The MOFA tool lists India as visa required. The GDRFA Dubai service is for Indian passport holders with a US green card or a UK or EU residence visa, and it grants 14 days, extendable once, with a 48-hour expected completion time.

Read our full guide to Dubai visa on arrival for Indians for the documents, validity rules and what to do if you don’t qualify.

Visa on Arrival for UAE Residents: What It Means

People who search for “UAE residents visa on arrival” usually mean one of two things:

• You live in the UAE and are travelling abroad. Visa-on-arrival rules then depend on the country you are visiting and your passport, not on the UAE. Check that country’s official immigration website or your airline before you book.

• You live in another country and want to enter the UAE. This is the conditional scheme above, which needs a valid residence permit from one of the approved countries.

Which Countries Still Need a Visa Before Travel?

The MOFA tool lists these countries, among others, as visa required: India (on a passport alone), Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Egypt, Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, Jordan, Türkiye and Morocco.

Travellers from these countries cannot rely on visa on arrival unless they meet the residence-permit conditions described above. See our guides for Pakistani citizens and Nigerian citizens.

UAE Visa on Arrival: Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a Dubai visa on arrival?

Visa-free entry applies across the UAE, including Dubai. Eligible Indian travellers can also use a GDRFA Dubai visa-on-arrival service if they hold a US green card or a UK or EU residence visa.

How much is the UAE visa on arrival?

Under the June 2026 scheme, the total issuance fee is AED 100 for the 14-day visa and AED 250 for the 60-day visa. The GDRFA Dubai service for Indian nationals residing in the US, UK or EU lists a fee of 253. Visa-free nationalities do not pay a visa fee.

What is the UAE visa on arrival expansion?

On 25 June 2026, the UAE extended visa on arrival to nationals of Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines, Kenya and South Africa, and their accompanying family members, if they hold a valid residence permit from the US, an EU member state, the UK, Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand or Canada.

Can Indians get a UAE visa on arrival?

Not on an Indian passport alone. The GDRFA Dubai service requires a US green card or a UK or EU residence visa valid for at least six months, and it grants 14 days, extendable once for a similar period.

Can UAE residents get a visa on arrival?

It depends on what you mean. If you live in the UAE and travel abroad, the visa rules are set by the destination country, so check its official immigration website. If you live in an approved country such as the US, UK or an EU state and are a national of an eligible country, the conditional UAE scheme may apply to you.

Which nationalities still need a visa before travelling to the UAE?

The MOFA tool lists countries including India (on a passport alone), Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Egypt, Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, Jordan, Türkiye and Morocco as visa required.

How long can I stay on a UAE visa on arrival?

Under the conditional scheme you get 14 days (extendable once) or 60 days (not extendable). For visa-free nationalities, the permitted stay depends on your nationality, so confirm it through official channels or your airline.

What is the overstay fine on a UAE visa on arrival?

The overstay fine is AED 50 per day under the June 2026 visa-on-arrival rules.

Not Eligible for Visa on Arrival? Apply for a UAE Tourist Visa

If your nationality is not on the visa-free list and you don’t meet the residence-permit conditions, you need a UAE tourist visa before you travel. Buy Tourist Visa lets you apply online, and these pages will help you pick and prepare:

• Apply for a Dubai visa online

• 30-day single-entry visa or 60-day single-entry visa

• Express visa service if your travel date is close

• Dubai tourist visa price and requirements

• Processing time and visa status check