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Malaysia decides by passport, and your UAE residence does not change it. The Embassy of Malaysia in Abu Dhabi says Republic of India passports are visa-free until , UAE citizens can visit for up to 90 days, and a list of other nationalities needs a visa for any purpose. Every traveller completes the MDAC.
The rule, from the Malaysian embassy
The embassy's visa requirement page for foreigners says UAE citizens do not need a visa for a social visit not exceeding 90 days. Longer stays or other purposes need a visa before departure. It then lists citizens who need a visa for any purpose of visit. On that list you will find Bangladesh, Nepal, Nigeria, Ghana, Sri Lanka, Ethiopia, Cameroon, China, Myanmar and several more.
For Indian passports the page carries a separate line: holders of Republic of India passports "are eligible for visa-free entry into Malaysia" until . That is a dated waiver, not a permanent rule. If you plan a trip close to the end of the year, read the page again before you pay for tickets.
The page does not give stay lengths for passports that are on neither side, such as the Philippines or Egypt. We do not guess here. We ask the embassy or Immigration Malaysia and tell you.
Everyone: the MDAC
The embassy states that all travellers must complete the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card online at least three days before arrival. The form is at imigresen-online.imi.gov.my. The page does not state a fee for it. It is a form, not a visa, and a visa does not replace it.
Applying from the UAE
| Route | Who handles it | Time | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| In person at the embassy in Abu Dhabi, Form IM.47 | Embassy of Malaysia | Three working days | Varies by nationality |
| eVisa portal, malaysiavisa.imi.gov.my | Immigration Malaysia only | Set on the portal | Set on the portal |
| Visa-free (India, until the date above) | None | None | None |
Source: Embassy of Malaysia, Abu Dhabi, visa requirement page, checked . The eVisa portal home page did not show rules when we opened it, so the portal is the place to read its fees.
What Dubai agencies charge
Dubai agencies publish about AED 300 to AED 500 for a Malaysia visa (published prices of 2 Dubai agencies, checked ). These are service prices that depend on the product. They are not the government fee, and they do not apply if your passport is visa-free.
Documents for the embassy route
The embassy asks for the originals and one photocopy of each:
- One coloured passport photo, 3.5 cm by 5 cm, plain white or light blue background, taken in the last three months.
- Passport valid for more than six months from the date you enter Malaysia.
- Emirates ID valid at the time of application.
- A confirmed return ticket or onward ticket to a third country.
- Supporting papers such as a hotel booking, bank statement or passbook for three months, or an invitation letter.
If you hold an approved employment, student or dependant pass, the file is different. You bring the visa approval letter from Immigration Malaysia or the education or digital economy agency that issued it.
Why files get stuck
- Applying in person with a missing photocopy. Paper files are rejected fast.
- Emirates ID close to expiry on the day you submit.
- Assuming the Indian waiver covers work or study. It does not. Those still need a visa.
- No MDAC before the flight.
- Passports with under six months left.
How it works with us
Send your passport copy and travel dates on WhatsApp or through the form here. A visa adviser checks which Malaysia rule applies to your passport and says plainly if you need nothing. If you need a visa, you get one total price before you pay. Our team prepares the file, books your embassy submission where one is needed, checks every page and tells you what to bring. DubaiVisaDesk.com is a private visa service. Malaysian authorities decide every visa.
If a visa is refused, the authorities do not return their fee. Before you pay, your adviser tells you in writing what part of our total, if any, comes back.
Official sources
- Embassy of Malaysia in Abu Dhabi, visa requirement for foreigners: UAE citizens, India waiver, visa list, MDAC, documents, three working days.
- Malaysia eVisa portal: online visa applications processed by Immigration Malaysia.
- Malaysia Digital Arrival Card: arrival form for foreign visitors.
Malaysian passport holders coming to the UAE should read Dubai visa for Malaysians. For other trips see the Thailand visa for UAE residents, the Singapore visa for UAE residents and visas from Dubai.
