Everything You Need To Know About Dubai Transit Visa

Travelling soon and planning a stopover in Dubai? You’ll need a Dubai transit visa before arrival.

There are plenty of things to do and see in the fabulous emirate, even if you only have a couple of hours or days.

But before you plan your itinerary, it’s important to sort out a Dubai transit visa, so you can exit DXB seamlessly after your trip.

Here is everything you need to know:

Anyone who doesn’t qualify for a visa on arrival in Dubai or visa-free entry will need a Dubai transit visa to enter the country for a stopover between 48 and 96 hours.

48-hour transit visas are free of charge and aren’t extendable or renewable.

The 48-hour visa is valid 48 hours from entry into the UAE and you must exit within 48 hours from arrival.

96-hour visas will set you back Dhs50 and are not extendable or renewable.

This visa is valid for 96 hours from entry into the UAE and you must exit within 96 hours. A departure fee of Dhs30 applies for both options.

You can apply for a Dubai transit visa through the UAE-based airline you’re travelling with, namely Emirates and Etihad Airways.

Alternatively, if you’ve booked with a travel agency, they can do it for you, via the airline or on several platforms including the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) online portal.

The documents you need for a transit visa application include:

• A passport-sized photo with a white background.
• A passport valid for at least three months.
• A ticket booking to a third destination, aside from the one you came from.

Depending on how you apply, a transit visa takes between two and four days to process.