Yes, Indian passport holders need a visa for Dubai. Most Indians apply online before they fly: a Dubai visit visa costs $185 for 14 days, $205 for 30 days or $325 for 60 days, and takes 3 to 4 working days. Hold a valid US, UK or EU visa or residence permit, or a residence permit from one of six other countries? Then you can get a visa on arrival instead.
This guide covers both routes, what each one costs, the documents Indian applicants need, and the small mistakes that hold Indian applications up most often.
Do Indians need a visa for Dubai?
Yes. India is not on the UAE's visa free list, so you cannot simply book a flight and arrive. You need either a visa approved before you travel, or a qualifying document that makes you eligible for a visa on arrival.
The visa is issued by the UAE, not by Dubai alone, so one visa covers all seven emirates. You can land in Dubai, spend a few days in Abu Dhabi and fly home from either.
Visa on arrival for Indians: who qualifies
You can get a visa on arrival at a UAE airport if your Indian passport is valid for at least six months and you hold one of these, valid on the day you travel:
- United States: a visa, a residence permit or a green card
- United Kingdom: a visa or a residence permit
- European Union: a visa or a residence permit
- Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore or South Korea: a residence permit. A tourist visa from these six countries does not qualify.
At the counter you are given a 14 day visa that can be extended once for another 14 days, or a 60 day visa that cannot be extended. The fee is paid on arrival and is set by UAE immigration; the amounts quoted by official channels differ, so check the current fee with the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) before you fly. A US visa or green card must have at least six months of validity left. Holding an OCI card is not enough by itself, and an expired US, UK or EU document will be refused at the counter.
If you qualify, you do not need to apply online at all. If you need more than 14 days, or you want the certainty of an approved visa before you board, apply in advance instead.
Dubai visa price for Indians in 2026
Indian applicants pay the same price as every other nationality. Prices are per traveller, children included, and there is nothing more to pay on arrival.
Visa | Regular (3 to 4 working days) | Express (24 to 36 hours) |
|---|---|---|
$185 | $235 | |
$205 | $255 | |
$325 | $375 | |
$320 | $370 | |
$390 | $440 | |
$150 | $200 |
Prices are charged in US dollars, so your bank converts them to rupees at its own rate. Our Dubai visit visa price guide explains what the price covers and the costs people forget.
Which visa to choose
- A holiday of up to two weeks: the 14 days visa.
- A family visit or a longer holiday: the 30 days visa, which most Indian families pick.
- A long family stay, a wedding season or a stay of 5 to 8 weeks: the 60 days visa.
- You will leave the UAE and come back during the trip: a multiple entry visa, because a single entry visa ends when you leave.
- A layover where you want to leave the airport: the 96 hours transit visa. If you never pass through immigration between your two flights, no visa is needed; our transit visa guide explains when you do.
Documents Indian applicants need
- Passport: a clear colour scan of the bio page, with at least six months of validity left on the day you arrive.
- Photograph: recent, taken in the last three months, on a plain white background, with your face clearly visible.
- Return or onward ticket: dated inside the stay your visa allows.
- Accommodation: a hotel booking, or the address and phone number of the family or friends you are staying with.
Immigration can occasionally ask for something more, such as a recent bank statement. If that happens, we tell you exactly what is needed before anything is resubmitted. Travel insurance is not required.
How to apply from India
- Choose the visa that fits your dates, then enter your travel details.
- Type your name, passport number and dates exactly as printed in your passport.
- Upload the passport scan, photograph, ticket and accommodation details.
- Pay online by card. Choose express if you fly within the next few days.
- Receive your e-visa as a PDF by email. Print it and carry it with your passport.
There is no embassy visit and nothing is stamped in your passport in advance. You can track your application at every stage.
Mistakes that hold up Indian applications
- Names entered differently from the passport. Some Indian passports show the whole name in the given name field and leave the surname empty. Copy the fields exactly as printed, even when that looks unusual.
- A passport scan taken on a phone at an angle, or with glare across the details. Unclear scans are the most common cause of rejection our team sees.
- A card that blocks international payments. Some Indian bank cards need international online transactions switched on before they work on a UAE website.
- An old overstay. A past overstay in the UAE stays on your record and is checked on every new application. See what to do about an overstay.
If an application is refused, our guide to what to do after a Dubai visa rejection explains the likely causes and when to reapply.
Processing time for Indian applicants
Regular processing takes 3 to 4 working days, and express takes 24 to 36 hours for $50 more. Saturdays, Sundays and UAE public holidays are not working days. Apply one to two weeks before you fly, and no more than 60 days ahead, because the visa must be used within 60 days of being issued. Our guide to Dubai visa processing time covers the busy seasons.
Indians living in the UAE
If you already live in the UAE, your residence visa lets you come and go without a visit visa while it is valid. To bring parents or relatives from India, you can buy them a visit visa like any other traveller. You can also sponsor one yourself if you meet the salary rules. Our family visit visa guide explains both options.
About this guide
Prices are eDubai Visa's own, as listed on each visa page in October 2026. Visa on arrival rules are published by the GDRFA Dubai and the ICP, and the fees are set by UAE immigration and can change, so check them before you travel. Approval of every application is decided by UAE immigration.
eDubai Visa is operated by Only Tourism L.L.C., a travel agency licensed in Dubai under Department of Economy and Tourism licence 690148. To compare every visa and apply, see all Dubai visas and prices.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Indians need a visa for Dubai?
Yes. Indian passport holders need a visa approved before travel. The exception is a valid US, UK or EU visa or residence permit, or a residence permit from Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore or South Korea. These allow a visa on arrival.
How much is a Dubai visa for Indians in 2026?
$185 for 14 days, $205 for 30 days and $325 for 60 days, per traveller. Express processing adds $50. Indians pay the same price as every other nationality.
Can Indians get a visa on arrival in Dubai?
Only with a valid US, UK or EU visa or residence permit, a US green card, or a residence permit from one of six other countries. You get 14 days, extendable once for 14 more, or a 60 day visa that cannot be extended. An OCI card alone does not qualify.
How long does a Dubai visa take for Indians?
3 to 4 working days on regular processing, or 24 to 36 hours on express. Saturdays, Sundays and UAE public holidays are not counted.
What documents do Indians need for a Dubai visa?
A colour scan of the passport bio page with six months of validity, a recent photo on a white background, a return or onward ticket, and a hotel booking or your host's address.
Is the Dubai visa valid in Abu Dhabi?
Yes. The visa is issued by the UAE and covers all seven emirates, including Abu Dhabi and Sharjah. You do not need a separate visa for each emirate.
Can Indians transit through Dubai without a visa?
Yes, as long as you stay inside the airport and do not pass through immigration. To leave the airport during a layover, you need a visa such as the 96 hours transit visa.
Can I work in Dubai on a visit visa?
No. A visit visa does not allow you to work. Working on one breaks UAE immigration law and can lead to a fine, deportation and a ban on future entry.
About the author
Eunice Rollon
Dubai Visa Specialist, eDubai Visa
Eunice Rollon has spent more than six years filing UAE entry permits for travellers, and handles Dubai tourist, visit and transit visa applications at eDubai Visa day to day. Her work covers the part of the process most applicants find hardest to judge: whether a given passport and travel route qualifies, which visa length actually fits a trip, and what causes an application to be refused before it is submitted. She reviews the visa guidance published on this site for accuracy against current GDRFA and ICP practice. eDubai Visa is operated by Only Tourism L.L.C., a travel agency licensed in Dubai under Dubai Economy and Tourism licence 690148, trading since 2013.
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