UAE Tourist Visa: Quick Overview

Planning a trip to Dubai or the wider UAE? The tourist visa options, current fees, extension rules, and overstay penalties are covered in full in our UAE Tourist Visa 2026 guide, including the 60-day visa option and the 120-day total stay cap that aren’t covered here.

In short: options run from a 30-day visa up to a 5-year multiple-entry visa (up to 90 days per visit, 180 days in any 12 months), plus 48 or 96-hour transit visas for layovers. Apply through ICP Smart Services, GDRFA Dubai, a UAE airline, or an authorised hotel or travel agency. You cannot work on a tourist visa under any circumstances.

One thing worth knowing before you travel: unlike a residence visa, a tourist visa gets no grace period at all. The AED 50 daily overstay fine starts the day after your visa or last approved extension expires.