Dubai Visa for GCC Residents
A 30 day Dubai visa based on where you live, not the passport you hold. $200 per person.
- Stay
- 30 days
- Enter within
- 30 days
- Entries
- Single
- Delivered
- 3–4 days
What is the Dubai visa for GCC residents?
The Dubai visa for GCC residents is a 30-day single-entry visit visa for people who hold a valid residence permit in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain or Oman whatever passport they carry. It is issued on the strength of your residency, not your nationality, which is why an Indian, Filipino, Egyptian or Pakistani national living in Riyadh or Doha can apply on this route.
For millions of people across the Gulf, this is the difference between a weekend in Dubai being simple and being a project.
Key details
| Price | $200 per person, processing included |
|---|---|
| Express | $250, issued in 24–36 hours |
| Length of stay | 30 days from entry |
| Entries | Single |
| Validity | 30 days; entry must take place inside that window |
| Eligible residencies | Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman |
| Passport | Any nationality, provided the residency is valid |
| Processing | 3–4 working days |
| Where it is valid | All seven emirates |
What counts as a GCC residency
This is where most applications go wrong, so it is worth being precise.
- Your residence permit must be valid and it needs enough time left on it, comfortably beyond your travel dates. A permit expiring within weeks of your trip is the most common reason an application is refused.
- It must be a residence permit, not a visit visa. A tourist or visit visa for another GCC country does not qualify you. The Iqama, QID, Bahraini CPR, Kuwaiti or Omani residence card those do.
- Your name must match exactly across passport and residence permit. Gulf residence cards sometimes carry names in a different order, or with a middle name dropped. Where they differ, tell us before you apply rather than after.
- Your recorded profession may be considered as part of the assessment. This is a normal part of how these applications are reviewed and it is not something to work around give us your details honestly and we will tell you where you stand before you pay.
If you are unsure whether your residency qualifies, ask us first. We would rather answer the question in advance than process an application that was never going to work.
A shorter window than the standard visa
One difference worth noting if you have applied for a UAE visa before. The standard tourist visas give you 60 days from issue to arrive. This one gives you 30 and your 30 days of stay begin when you enter, inside that window.
It is a shorter runway, and it changes when you should apply. Booking a Dubai weekend six weeks out and applying for the visa on the same day is how people find it has expired before they travel. Apply two to three weeks before you go, and renew your residence permit first if it is close to expiry rather than while the application is with us.
Documents required
- Passport bio page — colour scan, six months' validity minimum
- Your GCC residence permit — both sides, clearly legible, showing the expiry date
- Passport photograph — recent, white background
- Travel details — flight booking, or your route and dates if you are driving in
- Where you are staying — hotel booking, or your host's address
If you are driving from Saudi Arabia or Oman rather than flying, say so on the application. It changes what we need from you, and a road crossing is not a problem it just needs to be declared.
Processing time
Regular
3–4 working days
$200
Express
24–36 hours
$250
3–4 working days. If your residence permit is close to expiry, renew it before applying rather than during a permit that expires while the application is with us will stop it.
Driving up this weekend? Express processing issues the visa in 24–36 hours for $250.
How to apply
- Check your residency — valid, a residence permit rather than a visit visa, with time left beyond your trip.
- Select the GCC residents visa — and enter your travel dates and route.
- Upload your documents — passport, both sides of your residence permit, photo, travel and accommodation details.
- Pay $200 — and receive the visa by email in 3–4 working days.
Related visas
Frequently asked questions
How much is the Dubai visa for GCC residents?
$200 per person for 30 days, single entry, with processing included. Express processing is $250 and takes 24–36 hours.
How long is the visa valid before I travel?
30 days from issue. Your entry must take place inside that window, and the 30 days of stay begin when you arrive. This is shorter than the 60-day window on the standard tourist visas, so apply two to three weeks before you travel.
Does my nationality matter?
The visa is issued on your GCC residency rather than your passport, which is why residents of any nationality can apply. Your passport details still form part of the application.
Which countries count as GCC for this visa?
Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman. A valid residence permit from any of the five qualifies.
Does a visit visa for another Gulf country qualify me?
No. It must be a residence permit an Iqama, QID, CPR or equivalent residence card. A tourist or visit visa does not.
How much validity does my residence permit need?
It must be valid, with comfortable time remaining beyond your travel dates. If yours is close to expiry, renew it before applying.
Can I drive into the UAE on this visa?
Yes the visa is valid whether you fly or cross by road. Tell us you are driving when you apply so we ask for the right details.
What do you need from my residence permit?
A clear scan of both sides, legible, showing the expiry date.
My name is written differently on my passport and my residence card.
Tell us before you apply rather than after. Gulf residence cards sometimes carry names in a different order, or with a middle name dropped, and the two need to match.
Should I renew my residence permit before applying?
If it is close to expiry, yes. Renew it before applying rather than during a permit that expires while the application is with us will stop it.
$200
Regular · 3–4 working days