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An Indian passport holder needs a transit visa only to leave a UAE airport during a connection. You get 48 or 96 hours, single entry, no extension, sponsored by a UAE-based airline. GDRFA lists AED 50 plus the airline's fee, and ICP lists AED 50 plus AED 100 smart services for 96 hours. Staying inside the terminal needs nothing.
Why India is on the "needs one" side
The UAE says the transit visa is for people who are not eligible for a visa on arrival or visa-free entry and want to leave the airport. The UAE foreign ministry shows India as visa required. So an Indian passport on its own does not walk through immigration, even for a day in the city. The page on the Dubai transit visa has the general rule for all passports. This one is for Indians.
There is one exception for Indians who also hold other papers. If you hold a valid US visa or green card, or a UK or EU visa or residence, with six months left, the 14-day visa on arrival is open to you. It lets you leave the airport without a transit visa, and it costs AED 100 from ICP. See visa on arrival for Indians.
Dubai, Abu Dhabi or Sharjah: which authority
| Where you stop | Authority | What it lists |
|---|---|---|
| Dubai airports | GDRFA | AED 50 plus the airline or mediator fee, 48 hours to process |
| Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, northern emirates | ICP | AED 50 for the 96-hour visa, AED 100 smart services, usually within 2 days |
Source: GDRFA and ICP transit visa service pages, checked .
On the ICP page the 48-hour visa appears under sea ports. We would not count on the 48-hour option at a UAE airport without asking the airline. The 96-hour visa is listed for air and sea.
Agency and airline prices
For a 48-hour visa, 3 Dubai agencies publish AED 132 to AED 275. For 96 hours, 4 agencies publish AED 227 to AED 349 (prices checked ). Those totals include the agency's own service. Emirates lists USD 10 for 48 hours and USD 49 for 96 hours on its own tickets.
The airline has to be a UAE one
GDRFA says the visa is submitted through approved airlines and mediators such as Emirates, flydubai, dnata and airport hotels. u.ae says transit visas are sponsored by UAE-based airlines and approved before you enter. An Indian passenger flying a foreign carrier on both legs cannot use this route. The fix is a tourist visa, which we can file. See tourist visa for Indians.
What to send us
- A photo on a white background
- The passport page and cover, with six months left
- The ticket that shows your next flight
- A visa for the next country, if an Indian passport needs one there
ICP also wants the passport valid for the country you continue to.
Counting the hours
The clock starts at entry, not on the visa date. If you land late on day one and your onward flight leaves early on day five, you may be over the 96 hours. Count from landing. ICP lists an overstay charge of AED 50 a day. A stop longer than four days calls for a 30-day visit visa.
How it works with us
Send your e-ticket and Indian passport copy on WhatsApp, or use the form on this page. An adviser reads the airline and the connection time, then tells you if a transit visa fits or whether the 14-day or tourist route is better. You see one total before paying. We file through the airline or sponsor and send the e-visa to you. We are a private visa service, and the authorities decide the visa.
If it is refused, the government fee is not returned by the authorities. Before payment your adviser puts in writing what part of our total, if any, would come back.
Official sources
- u.ae transit visa: 48 or 96 hours, airline sponsor, no extension.
- ICP port visas: fees and documents.
- GDRFA transit visa: AED 50, documents, airlines.
- UAE foreign ministry visa exemptions: India shown as visa required.
- Emirates UAE visa information: airline prices.
Checked . Check the official page before you pay.
