If you’re planning a trip that includes a stop in Dubai, here are the most up-to-date Dubai transit laws you should be aware of.
Is it possible for me to transit in Dubai now?
Provided you are a visitor who is ordinarily allowed to enter the UAE, travelers of all nations may now obtain transit and tourist visas, and anybody can visit the UAE if they have the necessary credentials.
Are there any papers that must be submitted?
If you are not a nationality that is qualified for a visa on arrival or visa-free admission to the UAE, you will need a transit visa.
Citizens of some countries can get a 30-day or 90-day visa on arrival. Travelers in this group do not need to make advance visa preparations to enter the UAE, and they are also eligible for a 10-day grace period for an extension.
It is possible for people of GCC nations to enter without a visa and any additional licenses or sponsorships from a UAE national or resident.
What is the cost of a transit visa in Dubai?
The UAE offers two kinds of transit visas:
(i) 48 hours (free)
(ii) 96 hours (AED 50)
Transit visas are non-renewable and must be completed and accepted before entering the UAE.
How can I obtain a transit visa for Dubai?
The airline you are flying with will get you a transit visa and it is usually arranged prior to your departure. If you book your trip through a travel agency, they will take care of getting your transit visa.
The following papers must be provided to receive your visa:
48-hour transit visa
- a passport or travel document with a minimum 3-month validity
- a self-portrait on a white backdrop
- a reservation for a flight to a third destination other than the one from which you are departing
96-hour transit visa
- a passport or travel document with a minimum 3-month validity
- a self-portrait on a white backdrop
- an onward ticket reservation to a third place other than the one from which you are departing
Is it necessary to be tested when transiting through Dubai?
According to the Emirates travel requirements website, you may be required to give a negative PCR test prior to departure and take another test upon arrival, depending on where you depart from.
Passengers transiting via Dubai from the following countries must provide a negative COVID19 PCR test certificate for a test done less than 72 hours prior to departure, as well as comply with any regulations imposed by their ultimate destination:
Bangladesh, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, South Africa, Uganda, Nigeria, Vietnam, Zambia
It must be a PCR test, not an antibody or home testing kit. To check-in, passengers must present a paper certificate in English or Arabic – no SMS or digital certificates will be allowed. If they can be confirmed at the originating station, PCR certificates in other languages that are required by the ultimate destination are acceptable.
Other transit travelers are not needed to provide this certificate unless their ultimate destination requires it.
Transit time for countries with travel restrictions
If your transit time is more than 10 hours and you are travelling from one of the banned countries (Bangladesh, India, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, South Africa, Uganda, Vietnam, or Zambia), you will be compelled to leave the airport.
You will be refused boarding at the point of origin if you cannot show proof of the ability to depart the airport for a transit of more than 10 hours.
Complimentary hotel accommodations for transit travelers by Emirates
Emirates (Dubai) has launched a new service for customers transiting through Dubai Airport who must wait longer to board their flights onward. The service, dubbed Dubai Connect, includes complimentary hotel accommodations, transportation, and a visa to enter the UAE.
Passengers with a connecting layover duration of 10 to 24 hours can use Dubai Connect Services. It applies to all types of cabins (First Class, Business, and Economy).
The service must be reserved at least 24 hours prior to the arrival flight in Dubai.
Eligible passengers
The connecting flight on the passenger’s schedule must be the best available link to book a Dubai Connect service. This implies that the time spent in Dubai between your two flights must be the shortest possible.
The ticket does not qualify for Dubai Connect if the connecting flight departs after another, earlier connecting flight to the passenger’s destination.
If you are qualified for visa-on-arrival or have a pre-approved visa and do not qualify for Dubai Connect, you may stay in a hotel or with relatives/friends at your own expense if you are not eligible for Dubai Connect.
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