Do UK citizens need a visa for United Arab Emirates?
You do not apply before travel. GOV.UK says a visitor visa is issued free when you arrive, stamped in your passport, for up to 90 days in a 180-day period from your first entry. Your passport must expire at least 6 months after you arrive.
Key facts
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Visa needed? | A visa is issued on arrival. GOV.UK says you do not apply in advance and there is no charge for this visitor stay. |
| Maximum stay | Up to 90 days in a 180-day period, continuous or split across visits, counting from the first entry. |
| Cost | Free, according to GOV.UK |
| How to apply | On arrival, at immigration. This is not an online authorisation you buy from a third-party website. To extend a stay, GOV.UK says contact GDRFA in Dubai or the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship elsewhere in the UAE. |
| Passport validity | Expiry date at least 6 months after the day you arrive. If you only transit and do not pass immigration, GOV.UK says the passport must expire at least 3 months after the transit. |
| Other documents | The UAE government portal says visa-on-arrival lists can change and that you should check with the UAE embassy before travel. GOV.UK names GDRFA Dubai, and the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship for the rest of the UAE, if you need to extend. |
| Official link | Use the authority’s own website. Entry Visa Guide does not take applications. · UAE government portal: do you need a visa? (opens in a new tab) |
Apply only on the government website linked above. This site does not issue the authorisation and does not take the application. Other websites charge their own service fee on top of any government charge.
How to apply
- Check your passport expires at least 6 months after the day you arrive.
- Do not pay a website for a UAE tourist visa if you are relying on the free on-arrival stamp GOV.UK describes. Confirm with the UAE embassy if your passport is not a British citizen passport or if a carrier asks for a pre-issued visa.
- At immigration, the visa is stamped in the passport. Keep the dates inside 90 days in the 180-day period that starts on first entry.
- If you need longer, contact GDRFA Dubai or the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship before you overstay. GOV.UK says overstay fines can build up by the day.
Work is a different visa
GOV.UK says working on a visit visa can lead to a fine, prison, or deportation. A job needs the work permission that matches the emirate. This on-arrival stay is not permission to work.
The UAE government portal, updated 13 July 2026, says citizens of some countries can get a visa on arrival, that the lists can change, and that passports must be valid for at least 6 months. Use that portal or the UAE embassy if your circumstances are not a standard British citizen holiday.
A comparison with Turkey is in Do UK citizens need a visa for Turkey or the UAE?.
Recent changes
- Checked against GOV.UK UAE entry requirements and the UAE government portal page on entry permits. The free 90-day on-arrival rule is stated by GOV.UK. · source (opens in a new tab)
FAQ
Do I apply online before I fly?
GOV.UK says no. The visitor visa is issued free on arrival and stamped in your passport. You do not need a pre-trip application for this stay.
How long can I stay?
Up to 90 days in a 180-day period starting from your first entry. The days can be one stay or several visits, as long as the total does not pass 90.
Can I work on this visit?
No. GOV.UK says you can be fined, jailed, or deported for working on a visit visa.
Sources
- GOV.UK: United Arab Emirates entry requirements (opens in a new tab)
- UAE government portal: do you need an entry permit or a visa? (opens in a new tab)
Related reading
Independent guide, not legal advice. Entry Visa Guide is an independent information site. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or run by any government or public authority. Always check official sources before you travel. Spotted something out of date? Report an error.