Dubai has introduced a faster tourist visa processing service that enables eligible visitors to obtain a single-entry tourist visa within 48 working hours of completing the application process. The initiative is aimed at streamlining travel procedures and enhancing the emirate’s appeal as a global tourism destination.
Under the updated system, travellers can apply for a single-entry tourist visa valid for either 30 or 60 days. The visa must be sponsored by a UAE-based establishment operating in the tourism sector, with applications processed through the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) digital platforms.
The service is available through the GDRFA website and smart application, allowing applicants to submit documentation, complete application details and pay applicable fees online. The platform is accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Applicants are required to provide a personal photograph, a copy of their passport and, for certain nationalities including Iraq, Pakistan, Iran and Afghanistan, a copy of their national identity card. Travellers must also hold a passport or travel document with a minimum validity of six months, possess a confirmed onward or return travel ticket, and maintain valid medical insurance coverage for their stay in the UAE.
The visa fee has been set at AED 200 for a 30-day tourist visa and AED 300 for a 60-day tourist visa, excluding the applicable 5 per cent value-added tax. No security deposit is required for this visa category. For applicants already present within the UAE, additional charges include AED 10 each towards the Knowledge Dirham and Innovation Dirham, along with an in-country application fee of AED 500.
Authorities noted that the final amount payable may vary depending on the applicant’s circumstances and other factors that may influence visa issuance requirements.
The new service is expected to benefit leisure travellers seeking quicker access to the destination, particularly during peak travel periods and short-notice travel plans. By reducing processing times to 48 working hours, Dubai aims to offer greater convenience and flexibility to international visitors while reinforcing its position as one of the world’s leading tourism and business hubs.
Officials also confirmed that tourist entry visas issued under this category can be renewed or extended, subject to applicable regulations. However, only accredited tourism offices and authorised tourism establishments within the emirate are permitted to issue and sponsor these visas.
For the complete list of accredited tourism service centres and authorised visa sponsors, click here.
