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German citizens do not need a visa for Dubai. The UAE ministry lists Germany as visa free, and the free entry runs up to 90 days within 180 days on a valid biometric passport. That does not make the trip paperwork-free. The passport has to pass a few checks, a stay longer than 90 days needs an extension, and the German foreign office is currently advising against non-essential travel to the UAE.
What the German government says
The Auswaertiges Amt page for the UAE was dated when we read it. It advises against non-essential travel, saying the security situation in the region remains highly volatile and that military strikes since July have hit targets in the region, including the UAE. It also warns of flight disruption. The page says to register on the crisis list and to follow the guidance of the UAE crisis authority NCEMA. Read the live page before you buy a ticket. It can change faster than we can.
Entry rules for a German passport
- A regular biometric passport. A provisional passport and a national ID card are not accepted for entry. A children's passport is accepted if it was never extended.
- At least six months of validity on the day you enter.
- Sex shown as M or F. Entry can be refused if the date of birth reads XX.XX instead of numbers, or if the passport has no first or family name.
- People with several nationalities must leave on the passport they entered with.
Anyone turned away at the border is sent back to the airport of departure, and airlines can refuse boarding at check-in.
Cost and stay
| Item | Cost | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Entry, up to 90 days in 180 | Free | MOFA and Emirates airline list |
| Extension, application | AED 100 | ICP extension service |
| Extension, fee | AED 500 | ICP extension service |
| Overstay | AED 50 a day | ICP announcement |
Source: ICP and MOFA pages, checked . The free stay is multiple entry and valid for six months from issue, and Emirates states a total of 90 days. Work, paid or unpaid, is not allowed during it. ICP lists a total of 120 days for tourist visits, so plan any longer stay as a visa or residence matter.
Germans who live in the UAE
A German with a UAE residence permit still needs a regular biometric passport. The Auswaertiges Amt says leaving on an emergency travel document or a provisional passport requires first cancelling the residence permit with the immigration authority. That cannot be done at the airport and takes at least 24 hours. The same page says an EU licence is accepted for car hire on short stays, and residents are expected to hold a converted UAE licence.
Trouble to avoid
The German advice is blunt about local law. Cash, jewellery or goods above AED 60,000 must be declared in advance on the customs platform AFSEH. A legal dispute or an open claim can bring a travel ban that keeps you in the UAE for months. Online reviews and insulting gestures have led to bans too. If you drive in from Saudi Arabia through Al Ghuwaifat, the car needs insurance, which the page says can be bought through the Shory Aber app.
If you searched for a German visa from Dubai
Many people in the UAE search for "Germany visa Dubai". That is the other direction: a UAE resident applying for a German Schengen visa. The Dubai and Northern Emirates application goes through VFS Global Dubai, and Dubai agencies publish about AED 325 to AED 1,200 for the service (published prices of 4 Dubai agencies, checked ). The full steps are on Germany visa from Dubai.
Your mission in the UAE
Germany has an embassy in Abu Dhabi and a Consulate General in Dubai on one joint website. It lists visa and entry information, appointments for consular affairs, citizenship, legalisation of UAE documents, driving licences and passports. Its appointment system is for consular affairs only, not visas.
Steps before a trip
- Read the current German travel advice for the UAE.
- Check passport type, validity and the date of birth line.
- Send us the passport pages of any traveller who is not German.
- Keep proof of onward travel and your return details with you.
- Count your days if you plan to stay close to 90.
How it works with us
Send your passport page and travel dates on WhatsApp, or fill in the form. A visa adviser confirms the entry rule for your passport, flags anything that could stop you at the counter, and quotes one total for any extension or relative's visa. The team prepares the file, follows it up and sends the approved documents. We are a private visa service, and the authorities make the decision.
If an application is refused, the authority does not refund its fees. Before you pay, the adviser tells you in writing what part of our total would come back, if any.
Official sources
- Auswaertiges Amt, UAE travel advice: entry, passport, residents, law
- MOFA visa exemptions: Germany listed as visa free
- Emirates airline UAE visa information: 90 day rule
- ICP extension service: fees and limits
- German missions in the UAE: consular services
Other EU passports: Dubai visa for EU citizens. All nationalities: Dubai visa by nationality.
