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Gambians need a Dubai visa before travel. The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs lists the Republic of the Gambia as visa required. A licensed Dubai company files a GDRFA tourist visa for you: AED 210 for 30 days or AED 315 for 60 days, single entry. A relative with UAE residence can sponsor you instead.
The ban rumour
Some time ago, reports said the UAE had banned Gambians. The Gambian foreign ministry answered on that Gambians are not banned. The ministry added that 30-day visas were temporarily unavailable then and a 60-day multiple entry visa was still open, with a round-trip ticket and hotel booking needed. That article is old. The MOFA page today simply says visa required.
Fees
| Visa | GDRFA fee |
|---|---|
| 30 days, single entry | AED 210 |
| 60 days, single entry | AED 315 |
Source: GDRFA tourist visa service pages, checked . VAT is included. Agencies add their charge.
What we ask for
- Gambian passport valid for at least six months
- Clear colour scan of the bio page
- Passport photo on white
- Return ticket and hotel booking
- Insurance valid in the UAE
- For a family host: Emirates ID, residence visa and salary proof
Embassy and workers
Aggregator listings and a State House headline point to a Gambian embassy in Abu Dhabi, and to a worker protection agreement between the two governments. The official pages would not load for us, so we print no address and no terms. A visit visa is not a work permit, so do not fly on one to start a job.
How it works with us
You message us your passport page and dates. An adviser chooses between a tourist visa and a family sponsored visa, then sends one total price. Once you agree, the team files the request and handles any GDRFA question. We are a private visa service. GDRFA or ICP decides.
A refusal means the authority keeps its fees. Before payment, your adviser writes down what share of our total, if any, returns.
Common refusals
- Passport close to expiry
- Blurred or cropped scan
- Missing return ticket
- A sponsor whose salary is too low
Official sources
- UAE MOFA visa exemptions: the Gambia listed as visa required
- GDRFA single entry tourist visa: fees
- The Point, November: foreign ministry statement
Neighbours with similar rules: Ghana and Nigeria. Going to Banjul instead? See Gambia visa for UAE residents.
