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Egyptian citizens need a visa issued before they fly to Dubai. Egypt is on the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs' "visa required" list, so there is no stamp on arrival. A 30-day single entry tourist visa costs AED 210 in GDRFA fees and GDRFA states 48 hours to process it. If a relative lives in the UAE, they can sponsor a visit visa instead.
Three ways in for an Egyptian passport
| Your situation | Visa | Who files it |
|---|---|---|
| Holiday, nobody to sponsor you | GDRFA tourist visa, 30 or 60 days | A licensed Dubai tourism establishment, hotel or airline |
| Son, daughter, spouse or sibling lives in the UAE | Visit visa for a relative | Your relative, as sponsor |
| You live and work in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman or Bahrain | Entry visa for GCC residents | You or an agent, online |
A UK, US or Schengen visa in your passport does not change this. ICP's residence-abroad visa is open only to India, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines, Kenya and South Africa. If you hold another passport as well, read the visa by nationality list for that one.
What the tourist visa costs
| Visa | GDRFA fee with VAT |
|---|---|
| 30 days, one entry | AED 210 |
| 60 days, one entry | AED 315 |
| 30 days, multiple entries | AED 315 |
| 60 days, multiple entries | AED 525 |
Source: GDRFA tourist visa service pages, checked . No security deposit is listed for tourist visas.
What Dubai agencies charge
You cannot pay GDRFA directly as a tourist, so the price you see includes the agency's service fee. Dubai visa agencies publish about AED 340 to AED 800 for a 30-day single entry visa (published prices of 8 Dubai agencies, checked ). The Dubai visa price page breaks that down.
Visiting family in the UAE
Many Egyptian visitors come to see a son or daughter working in Dubai, Sharjah or Abu Dhabi. The resident sponsors the visit. ICP sets the income they need each month:
- AED 4,000 to bring a parent, spouse or child.
- AED 8,000 for a brother, sister, grandparent or grandchild.
- AED 15,000 for a friend.
The ICP fees are AED 100 to apply, AED 100 a month of stay for one entry (AED 200 a month for multiple), and AED 100 smart services. A guarantee of AED 1,000 for single entry is refunded when you leave on time. Stays run 30, 60 or 90 days. More detail is on the family visit visa page.
Egyptians already living in the Gulf
If you hold residence in a GCC country, GDRFA has an entry visa for GCC residents. It asks for a valid GCC residence, a profession on the approved list, a passport with 6 months left and a residence copy that shows your job title. GDRFA judges the profession case by case, so treat this route as a maybe until the visa is issued. GDRFA lists AED 52.5 service, AED 100 application and AED 100 issuance, and states 48 hours. Full conditions are on the GCC residents visa page.
Documents to have ready
- Egyptian passport valid at least 6 months from the day you land
- Clear colour scan of the bio page
- Photo on a white background, no sunglasses or hat
- Return or onward ticket
- Health insurance that covers the UAE
- For a sponsored visit: the sponsor's Emirates ID, salary proof and a birth or marriage certificate that shows the link
Before you leave Egypt
The UAE sets the visa rules. Egypt sets its own exit rules. Men of military service age and anyone leaving for a job contract should check with the Egyptian authorities before booking, because a valid UAE visa does not clear you at Cairo airport. For passport problems while in the UAE, the Embassy of Egypt is in Abu Dhabi and there is a Consulate General of Egypt in Dubai.
A visit visa is not a job search
Egyptian Streets reported on that Egypt's Assistant Foreign Minister said many UAE cancellations involved residency violations or people looking for work on tourist visas. If a job is the goal, compare the job seeker visa with a tourist visa before you go. Overstaying costs AED 50 a day, as the UAE overstay fine page explains.
Why Egyptian files get delayed or refused
- The passport has less than 6 months left on arrival day.
- The sponsor's salary letter shows only basic pay, which falls under the tier.
- The relationship document is missing or does not match the names.
- A past overstay or unpaid fine sits on your record.
- The name order on the booking differs from the passport.
Processing time
GDRFA states 48 hours and ICP states 2 days once the file is complete. If GDRFA asks for missing papers and you send nothing for 30 days, the request is cancelled. Plan at least a week ahead in Eid and summer.
How it works with us
Send the passport copy and the travel dates on WhatsApp or with the form on this page. Tell us if you live in Egypt or in a Gulf country and whether a relative in the UAE can sponsor you. A visa adviser picks the route that fits your case and gives you one total price, confirmed on WhatsApp before you pay. Our processing partners file the application and follow it with GDRFA or ICP. You get the e-visa by message once it is issued. We are a private visa service. The authorities approve or refuse every visa.
If the visa is refused, the government fee is not paid back by the authorities. Before you pay, the adviser tells you in writing which part of the total, if any, comes back after a refusal.
Official sources
- MOFA visa exemptions checker: Egypt shown as visa required.
- GDRFA single entry tourist visa and multiple entry tourist visa: fees, conditions, 48 hours.
- ICP visit visa for a relative or friend: income tiers, guarantee, entry window.
- GDRFA entry visa for GCC residents: profession rule and fees.
- u.ae tourist visa page: embassies do not issue tourist visas.
