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Russian citizens do not need a visa for Dubai. At passport control you get a free multiple entry stamp that allows up to 90 days in total within 180 days. Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months from entry. To stay past 90 days, to work or to live in the UAE, you need a visa arranged through GDRFA or ICP.
What is confirmed and what is only reported
Two sources agree. The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs shows the Russian Federation as Visa Free. Emirates, whose visa page is linked from the UAE government portal, puts Russia on its 90-day list: a multiple entry visit visa, valid 6 months from the date of issue, for a stay of 90 days in total.
The agreement behind it is less clear. A search snippet of the UAE Embassy in Moscow visa page said the visa waiver came into force on , allows stays of up to 90 days with no more than 90 days in any 180, and does not cover work, study or residence. That page now returns an error, so we could not read it in full. Treat those details as reported, not as text we have checked.
Some blogs still print 30 days for Russians. Those come from older lists. Use 90.
How the 90 days add up
The stamp is multiple entry. You can leave for Moscow, Baku or Muscat and come back. Each day in the UAE counts towards the same 90.
An example. You land on 1 March and fly home on 20 April: that is 51 days. You return on 1 June. You now have 39 days left, not 90. When the count reaches 90, the free route is used up until enough time has passed, so a fresh landing will not give you more days.
The entry and exit stamps are your record, so keep the passport you entered on.
Ways to stay longer, with the official fees
| Option | What it gives you | Official fee |
|---|---|---|
| New tourist visa issued inside the UAE | 30 or 60 days on a tourism company's sponsorship | AED 200 or AED 300 plus 5% VAT, plus AED 500 + AED 10 + AED 10 inside-country fee |
| 5-year multiple entry tourist visa | Up to 90 days per stay, extendable once for the same period, 180 days a year | AED 3,720 at ICP, including a AED 3,000 refundable guarantee |
| Relative or friend visit visa, 90 days | A UAE resident sponsors you | AED 400 plus 5% VAT single entry at GDRFA, AED 1,000 deposit, AED 90 insurance |
| Job seeker visit visa | 60, 90 or 120 days, no sponsor | AED 200, AED 300 or AED 400 plus 5% VAT, AED 1,000 security |
| Status change to residence | Moves you onto a residence entry permit | GDRFA Status Amendment AED 500 + AED 10 + AED 10 |
Source: GDRFA and ICP service pages, checked .
Can the free 90-day stamp itself be extended? ICP's extension page caps tourist visits at 120 days in total and charges AED 100 plus AED 500 per extension. It does not say whether a visa-free stamp counts as a tourist visit. Ask before you pay anyone for an "extension" of a Russian visa-free stay.
The 5-year visa is the one that solves a winter in Dubai. It allows one long stay of up to 180 days, which the free stamp never does. You need a bank balance of USD 4,000 over the last 6 months and UAE health insurance. Details on the 5-year Dubai visa page.
What Dubai agencies charge
Dubai visa agencies publish about AED 3,713 to AED 5,000 for the 5-year multiple entry tourist visa (published prices of 2 Dubai agencies, checked ). For a 30-day tourist visa extension inside the UAE they publish about AED 1,100 to AED 1,200 (3 agencies, same check). Our price is one total, confirmed on WhatsApp before you pay.
Documents for a longer stay
- Russian international passport with at least 6 months left
- Photo on a white background, no glasses
- Copy of the UAE entry stamp page
- Health insurance valid in the UAE
- Bank statement for the last 6 months, for the 5-year visa
- Sponsor's residence and salary proof, for a relative's visit visa
- Degree certificate, for the job seeker visa
Processing time
GDRFA states 48 hours for its visit, tourist, extension and status amendment services once the file is complete. ICP states 2 days. Start at least a week before your day 90. A file that waits for a missing document is cancelled after 30 days.
Why longer-stay requests fail
- Applying after the 90 days have run out, so overstay fines are already building.
- A bank statement that covers less than 6 months for the 5-year visa.
- A sponsor whose salary is under the ICP tier: AED 4,000 for parents or children, AED 8,000 for siblings, AED 15,000 for friends.
- Insurance that does not name the UAE.
If you stay too long
An overstay costs AED 50 a day on visit and tourist permits. Check any fine on the GDRFA fines inquiry page before you fly, and pay it before or at exit. After paying, you must either adjust your status or leave. Our UAE overstay fine guide covers the exit permit.
How it works with us
Send the passport page and a photo of your last UAE entry stamp on WhatsApp or through the form on this page. Tell us how long you want to stay and why. A visa adviser counts your days and says which option fits: a new visa from inside the country, the 5-year visa, a family sponsorship or residence. You see one total price before paying. Our processing partners file the application with GDRFA or ICP and follow it until it is issued, then send you the visa by email. DubaiVisaDesk.com is a private visa service; the authorities approve or refuse.
Government fees are not refunded by GDRFA or ICP after a refusal. Before you pay, your adviser puts in writing what share of the total, if any, comes back if the visa is refused.
Official sources
- MOFA visa exemptions page: checked for the Russian Federation, Visa Free.
- Emirates UAE visa information: checked for the 90-day multiple entry rule.
- ICP visa extension: checked for the 120-day cap and fees.
- GDRFA 5-year tourist visa: checked for stay limits and the total.
- GDRFA Status Amendment: checked for fees and conditions.
- GDRFA job seeker visa: checked for durations and security.
For moving onto a new permit, read change visa status in the UAE. Planning one long visit with family? See the 90-day Dubai visa.
