Passportly

Middle East · ordinary Indian passport, tourism

UAEVisa required in advance

How long you can stay

Plan for 30 days

Checked 15 August 2026 · 8 official sources

How long you can stay depends on the visa you buy. Tourist visas are sold in 30-day and 60-day versions, each available for single or multiple entry. You choose when you apply, and the fee goes up with the length. The 30-day single-entry visa is the cheapest and the one most leisure travellers buy.

See the options and what they cost →

Visa at a glance

Visa fee
AED 252
Entries
Varies by visa
Extendable
Yes
Passport validity
6 months

On the day you enter

What you need to enter

  • Return or onward ticket

    Required

  • Proof of accommodation

    Not stated

  • Proof of funds

    Not stated

    Not stated either way for this visa. GDRFA Dubai's service cards for the 30- and 60-day tourist visas publish a closed "Terms and Conditions" list — passport with six months validity, an onward or return ticket, and medical insurance valid in the UAE — and funds are not on it. That is an omission, not a statement that funds will not be asked for, so nothing is asserted here. Separately, a bank balance of USD 4,000 over the previous six months IS required for the five-year multiple-entry tourist visa, which is a different product from the visa this page describes.

  • Travel insurance

    Required

  • Blank passport pages

    Not stated

  • Vaccinations

    Not stated

  • Arrival form

    Not stated

“Not stated” means no official source we checked addresses it either way — not that it is unnecessary. Carry it if in doubt.

When to go

Pick a month to see what the weather actually does.

Measured at Dubai. Peak season is November, December, January, February, March — expect higher prices and crowds.

JanuaryPeak season

Excellent · the best month to go

Average
19°C
Rainfall
11mm
Rain days
2

Peak season and the most comfortable month. Evenings are genuinely cool — bring a layer for desert safaris.

Where you go changes the answer

How UAE's regions differ, and when it matters

The UAE is uniformly hot and almost rainless, so unlike most countries here the month ratings are driven by temperature alone — every month registers as low rainfall, and that number tells you nothing useful. What matters is the heat: July and August average 40°C by day and barely drop below 29°C at night, which makes walking outside genuinely unpleasant and confines most activity to air-conditioned interiors. Abu Dhabi runs slightly hotter than Dubai inland, and the Hajar mountains around Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah are a few degrees cooler. Sea temperatures peak above 33°C in August, which is too warm to be refreshing.

What it costs

₹₹₹ · per person per day

  • BudgetHostels, street food, public transport
    ₹4,500
  • Mid-range3-star hotels, restaurants, some activities
    ₹9,500
  • Luxury4–5 star hotels, private transport, experiences
    ₹25,000

Excludes international flights. Our estimate, not an official figure — reviewed 15 August 2026. A typical trip runs 4–7 days.

Where to go

  • Burj Khalifa and Downtown Dubai

    The tallest building in the world, with observation decks on levels 124, 148 and 154. Book a timed slot online well ahead — sunset slots sell out and cost roughly double the daytime rate.

  • Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Abu Dhabi

    White marble, 82 domes and the world's largest hand-knotted carpet. Free to enter, modest dress strictly enforced, and abayas are lent at the entrance.

  • Dubai Marina and JBR

    High-rise waterfront with a beach walk, dhow cruises and the zip line across the marina. The most walkable part of Dubai in the cooler months.

  • Desert safari, Dubai or Abu Dhabi

    Dune bashing, camel rides and dinner under canvas. Book an evening slot — the same trip at midday in summer is genuinely miserable.

  • Old Dubai — Deira and Al Fahidi

    The gold and spice souks, an abra ride across the creek for one dirham, and the wind-tower houses of the Al Fahidi historical district. The counterweight to the malls.

  • Louvre Abu Dhabi

    Jean Nouvel's domed museum on Saadiyat Island, where the perforated roof throws a 'rain of light' across the galleries. Worth the trip from Dubai in its own right.

  • Ras Al Khaimah and the Hajar mountains

    Jebel Jais, the highest peak in the UAE, with the world's longest zip line and temperatures several degrees below the coast. The alternative to a city-only trip.

The full rules

Everything official, quoted rather than summarised.

If you hold another country’s visa or residence

UAE eases entry for Indian passport holders who already hold certain documents from other countries. These routes are conditional and the conditions are strict — read them in full, and confirm with your airline before you book, because airlines decide boarding on their own reading of the rules.

United States

Visa on arrival· 14 days per visit

  • This applies to holders of a US permanent residence card — a green card. GDRFA's page for Indian citizens names the green card specifically, not a US visitor visa.
  • ⚠️ The UAE Embassy in New Delhi separately says Indians holding a "valid US visa" with at least six months validity may get a visa on arrival. That is a much wider group than green card holders, and the two official pages do not agree. We publish the narrower reading: if you hold only a US visitor visa and no green card, do not assume you will be admitted — confirm with your airline before you fly.
  • The green card must itself have at least six months validity remaining.
  • Your passport must be valid for at least six months.
  • The visa on arrival costs AED 253 and runs for 14 days, extendable once by a further 14 days — 28 days in total.
  • You must have no existing restrictions preventing entry to the UAE.

GDRFA Dubai — visa on arrival for citizens of the Republic of India · read 15 August 2026

United Kingdom

Visa on arrival· 14 days per visit

  • This applies to holders of a UK residence visa, not a UK visitor visa.
  • The residence document must have at least six months validity remaining, as must your passport.
  • The visa on arrival costs AED 253 and runs for 14 days, extendable once by a further 14 days.
  • ⚠️ The UAE announced in February 2025 that residence permits from Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea and Singapore would also qualify. GDRFA's page for Indian citizens has not been updated to list them, so we have not published them as confirmed. If you hold one of those, check with your airline.

GDRFA Dubai — visa on arrival for citizens of the Republic of India · read 15 August 2026

European Union

Visa on arrival· 14 days per visit

  • GDRFA's wording is a “residence visa issued by … European Union countries”. This is EU residence, not a Schengen visitor visa, and the two are not the same thing.
  • The residence document must have at least six months validity remaining, as must your passport.
  • The visa on arrival costs AED 253 and runs for 14 days, extendable once by a further 14 days.
  • ⚠️ The EU and the Schengen Area are not identical — Norway and Switzerland are Schengen but not EU. GDRFA says European Union, so residence in a non-EU Schengen country is unconfirmed: check with the airline and GDRFA before you fly.

GDRFA Dubai — visa on arrival for citizens of the Republic of India · read 15 August 2026

The detail

Conditions in full, fees, entries, and extending your stay
  • You cannot apply directly at a UAE mission in India. The UAE Embassy in New Delhi states plainly that "The UAE Consulate does not issue visit/tourist visas on ordinary passports" — your visa must be sponsored from inside the UAE.
  • In practice that means applying through your airline (Emirates, Etihad and flydubai all sponsor visas), your hotel, a licensed UAE travel agent, or directly through GDRFA Dubai or the federal ICP portal.
  • Fees below are GDRFA Dubai's published rates and all attract 5% VAT on top. Single entry: AED 252 for 30 days, AED 352 for 60 days. Multiple entry: AED 300 for 30 days, AED 500 for 60 days.
  • ⚠️ These are Dubai's figures. GDRFA handles Dubai only — the other six emirates are administered by the federal ICP authority, and fees or conditions may differ if your visa is issued elsewhere. Check the rate for the emirate that sponsors you.
  • Booking through an airline or hotel usually costs more than the government fee above, because the sponsor adds a service charge. The government fee is the floor, not the price you will pay.
  • Your passport must be valid for at least six months, and processing is quoted at 48 hours.
  • Overstaying is fined at AED 50 per day, calculated from ten days after your visa expires.
  • There is also a five-year multiple-entry tourist visa on self-sponsorship, allowing 90 days per visit extendable by another 90. It requires a bank balance of USD 4,000 or equivalent over the previous six months, health insurance valid 180 days, and a return or onward ticket.
Extending your stay
Possible. GDRFA Dubai publishes both renewal and extension services for tourist entry visas, single and multiple entry. No official extension fee was found for the ordinary tourist visa, so none is recorded here — ask the sponsor who issued your visa.
Number of entries
Varies — confirm with the embassy for your itinerary.
Visa fee
AED 252.

Common questions

Do Indians need a visa for UAE?
Indian ordinary passport holders must arrange a visa in advance to visit UAE for tourism. Last checked 15 August 2026.
How long can Indians stay in UAE?
It depends which visa you buy — the shortest tourist visa gives 30 days. Tourist visas are sold in 30-day and 60-day versions, each available for single or multiple entry. You choose when you apply, and the fee goes up with the length. The 30-day single-entry visa is the cheapest and the one most leisure travellers buy.
How long must my passport be valid to enter UAE?
Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months on the date you enter UAE. Renew before you travel if it expires sooner.
When is the best time to visit UAE?
January, February, March, April, October, November and December. These ratings are based on climate normals measured at Dubai. Check the month-by-month breakdown before booking a specific destination.
How much does a trip to UAE cost per day?
Roughly ₹4,500 per day on a budget, ₹9,500 mid-range, or ₹25,000 for luxury travel — per person, excluding international flights. Estimated 15 August 2026.

Sources

Every visa fact on this page comes from one of these. Verified by Rahul Chhabrani on 15 August 2026.

  1. GDRFA Dubai — issuance of a single-entry tourist visa (30 or 60 days)

    Government · read 15 August 2026

  2. GDRFA Dubai — issuing a tourist visa for several entries (30 or 60 days)

    Government · read 15 August 2026

  3. GDRFA Dubai — visa on arrival for citizens of the Republic of India

    Government · read 15 August 2026

  4. UAE Embassy in New Delhi — visa services for Indian nationals

    Embassy · read 15 August 2026

  5. UAE Embassy in New Delhi — UAE expands visa on arrival for Indian nationals

    Embassy · read 15 August 2026 · source last updated 19 February 2025

  6. The Official Portal of the UAE Government — tourist visa

    Government · read 15 August 2026 · source last updated 10 August 2026

  7. ICP — issuance of a visa, service fees and overstay fines

    Government · read 15 August 2026

  8. WMO World Weather Information Service — Dubai climate normals (UAE National Center of Meteorology)

    Intergovernmental · read 15 August 2026

Before you book

This page covers ordinary Indian passports, for tourism only. Rules for business, study, transit and diplomatic or official passports differ and are not covered here.

Visa rules change without notice. Everything here was checked against official sources on 15 August 2026. The final decision on entry always rests with immigration officers at the border. Confirm with the embassy before booking anything non-refundable.

See the 8 sources behind this page →