UAE visa for Indians in 2026: who needs one, the fees, and visa-on-arrival rules

In short: India is on the UAE's "visa required" list. You do not apply at a UAE embassy: the UAE government says its embassies do not issue tourist visas, so you get yours through a UAE airline, a licensed travel agent or a hotel. Indians who already hold a valid visa, residence permit or Green Card from the US, the EU or the UK, or from several other countries, can get a visa on arrival instead.

Do Indians need a visa?

Yes. The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs lists the Republic of India under "Visa Required". For a normal holiday, that means arranging a tourist visa before you fly.

The two ways in

1. A tourist visa arranged in advance. On the u.ae government portal (updated 1 October 2026), tourist visas are issued through UAE airlines, licensed travel agents or hotels. Dubai's immigration authority, GDRFA, publishes these figures for a single-entry tourist visa:

• 30 days: AED 200
• 60 days: AED 300
• Both plus 5% VAT, and no security deposit on this visa.
• Expected completion: 48 hours.
• Only accredited tourism offices in the emirate can issue it.

GDRFA lists these requirements: a passport valid for at least six months, a passport photo, a travel ticket to continue the journey or leave the UAE, and medical insurance valid in the UAE.

2. Visa on arrival, for Indians with another country's visa or residence. The UAE Embassy in New Delhi announced in February 2025 that Indian nationals can obtain a visa on arrival if they hold a valid visa, residence permit or Green Card from the United States, the European Union or the United Kingdom. From 13 February 2025, Indian ordinary passport holders with valid residence permits from Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea or Singapore can also get a visa on arrival at any UAE entry point.

The 5-year tourist visa

The multiple-entry tourist visa, valid for five years, lets you stay up to 90 days on each visit. GDRFA Dubai lists a bank-balance requirement of US$4,000 or the equivalent and UAE-valid health insurance, and a guarantee of AED 3,000 included in a page total of AED 3,713. The stay can be extended for a similar period as long as the total is not more than 180 days in a year.

Mistakes to avoid (our advice)

1. Paying twice. Ask your airline or hotel whether the visa is included in your booking before you buy one from an agent.
2. Leaving it to the airport. Visa on arrival is for specific cases only: you need to have that US, UK, EU or other visa or permit with you.
3. Short validity. The passport must be valid for at least six months.
4. No insurance. Medical insurance valid in the UAE appears among the listed requirements.

What we could not confirm

• The visa-on-arrival duration and fee: the official pages we read do not state them, so ask your airline or the ICP before you fly.
• The official processing time for visas arranged by airlines and agents, apart from GDRFA's 48 hours for Dubai.
• Fees agents add on top of the government fee.

How we checked this

We read the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs' visa-exemptions list, the UAE Embassy in New Delhi's announcement of 19 February 2025, the u.ae tourist visa page (updated 1 October 2026) and two GDRFA Dubai service pages on 10 November 2026. The federal ICP page shows different durations (30, 60 or 90 days), so the exact option you get depends on the visa category your sponsor applies for. Confirm with your airline or agent before booking. More on the UAE visa guide.