Last updated
The Emirates airline Dubai visa is a UAE tourist visa that Emirates sells to its own ticket holders. It starts at USD 90 for 30 days single entry, VAT included, and takes about 2 to 4 working days. You need an Emirates return ticket. If you fly another airline, or your ticket is a one-way, you need a different sponsor, and that is where we come in.
Emirates visa prices
These are airline prices in US dollars, not government fees. Emirates includes VAT.
| Emirates visa | Price |
|---|---|
| 30 days, single entry | USD 90 |
| 30 days, multiple entry | USD 136 |
| 60 days, single entry | USD 177 |
| 60 days, multiple entry | USD 231 |
| Tourist visa extension | USD 230 |
| 48 hour transit | USD 10 |
| 96 hour transit | USD 49 |
Source: Emirates UAE visa information page, checked . Emirates says the fees are not refunded once processed.
For comparison, GDRFA charges AED 210 for a 30-day single entry tourist visa and AED 315 for 60 days. Dubai agencies publish about AED 340 to AED 800 for 30 days single entry (published prices of 8 Dubai agencies, checked ). Emirates itself publishes only the dollar list above.
Who can use it
Emirates sells the visa to people travelling on its own tickets. The airline asks for:
- An Emirates return ticket with a ticket number that starts with 176.
- A hotel booking or the tenancy contract of the relative you will stay with.
- A passport valid 6 months from the travel date, machine readable.
- For relatives sponsoring a visit, proof of relationship. A minor needs a birth certificate in Arabic or English.
Resident sponsors face the Emirates salary table: AED 4,000 for a wife, children and parents, AED 5,500 for siblings, AED 7,000 for siblings-in-law and AED 10,000 for friends and other relatives. ICP uses its own tiers for relative visits, so the numbers do not match. Check with whoever is filing.
Timing and validity
Emirates asks for the request at least 4 international working days before arrival and quotes about 2 to 4 working days. The visa is valid 60 days from issue for entry. If your flight is days away and you need speed, see our urgent Dubai visa page.
The visa on arrival lists on Emirates pages
Emirates also publishes the countries whose passport holders enter without a prior visa. The 30-day group is Andorra, Brunei, Hong Kong, Kazakhstan, Macau, Malaysia, Mauritius, Monaco, Mongolia, Ireland, Ukraine, Uzbekistan and the Vatican. A 90-day group covers most of Europe plus Australia, Canada, China, Japan, the USA and others, valid for 90 days in total within 6 months. The lists can change, and MOFA and Emirates disagree on Macao, North Macedonia and Moldova, so confirm with ICP or your airline before you rely on them.
Indian passport holders with a US, UK or EU visa or residence have their own short visa. Emirates lists USD 63 for 14 days and USD 141.36 for 60 days for that group. See Dubai visa on arrival for Indians before paying.
When the Emirates visa is not the right tool
- You fly flydubai, Etihad or a foreign carrier. Emirates will not sell you the visa. A tourism company files for you instead.
- You hold a one-way or open ticket. The airline route wants an Emirates return.
- You are on the visa on arrival list. Entry is free, see UAE visa on arrival.
- You only change planes. A transit visa is the cheaper permit, see Dubai transit visa.
- You want to extend. Compare the USD 230 airline extension with the GDRFA fee of AED 600 plus VAT on Dubai visa extension.
Checking your visa
Emirates handles status on its own booking tools, because it was the sponsor. If another party filed your visa, follow our Dubai visa status check guide, which covers the GDRFA and ICP checks. Printed copy in hand, you are ready to fly.
How it works with us
Send your passport, ticket details and dates on WhatsApp or the form on this page. A visa adviser checks if the Emirates route suits you, or if a tourism company filing is safer. You get one total price, confirmed on WhatsApp before you pay. We file, track and send you the e-visa. DubaiVisaDesk.com is a private visa service, not Emirates and not the government. GDRFA or ICP decides every application.
Government fees are not refunded by the authorities after a refusal. Before you pay, your adviser writes down what part of our total, if any, comes back.
Official sources
- Emirates UAE visa information: prices, ticket and document rules, timing, refund terms.
- u.ae tourist visa: how tourist visas are filed.
- u.ae transit visa: transit rules.
All checked . More: apply for a Dubai visa online, processing time.
