Tourist and visitor travel to other Emirates
If you wish to travel to Abu Dhabi, please contact Etihad Airlines for the latest procedures and requirements. Fly Emirates can also assist you in providing the latest travel advice, guidelines and requirements including the updates on the flight cancellations, refunds and London – Dubai flights and alternative routes.
If you have further questions you can contact the UAE directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs costumer call centre 0097143139999
Livechat and email: https://gdrfad.gov.ae/en/form/contact-us
Testing and insurance requirements, approved PCR centres, and test exemption for travelling to the UAE
- Effective 31 January 2021, all passengers arriving into Dubai from any point of origin (GCC countries included) must hold a negative PCR test certificate, for which the covid test must be taken no more than 72 hours prior to time of departure.
- UAE nationals are exempt from the above, but will be required to take a PCR test on arrival at Dubai airport.
- Passengers arriving into Dubai from certain countries will be required to take another PCR test on arrival at DXB.
- PCR tests conducted by the NHS are accepted.
- Please contact Etihad or Fly Emirates Airlines as they will have the latest updates regarding testing requirements.
- You may also contact UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention costumer call centre:
- Livechat: https://www.mohap.gov.ae/en/Pages/default.aspx
- Tel: 00971 80011111
Tourist and visitor visa enquiries
You can visit the embassy website to check whether your nationality is eligible for a visa on arrival:
www.uae-embassy.info (click the “visas” page)
Please note the embassy does not issue tourist visas. Please visit the link above and read the instructions under the heading “Nationalities that require a visa to be arranged before travel to the UAE”.
You will need to apply for a visa if you have a UK residency and your nationality is not eligible for a visa on arrival. Please also make to check visa rules of the transit country if you are flying to Dubai via alternative routes.
If you have further questions you can contact the UAE directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs costumer call centre 0097143139999
Livechat and email: https://gdrfad.gov.ae/en/form/contact-us
Tourist Visa Extensions
You can apply to extend your tourist visa by visiting a local immigration office in the UAE. This cannot be done outside the UAE
Transiting in the UAE
- Please contact Fly Emirates or Etihad and follow the relevant procedures.
- Alternatively you can contact UAE directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs costumer call centre 0097143139999
- Livechat and email: https://gdrfad.gov.ae/en/form/contact-us
Passport validity
- If you are flying to Dubai, please contact your airline for minimum passport validity to travel.
- If you are flying to Abu Dhabi, the passport must be valid for at least 6 months from the date of entry
UAE residency holders that overstayed the 180 day period outside the UAE
Please contact your sponsor/employer or PRO (public relations officer) and follow the relevant procedures.
UAE Residency holders wishing to return to the UAE
- Please contact your sponsor or PRO for the latest procedures regarding UAE residents returning to the UAE.
- Alternatively, you may contact the ICA for directly on: 00971 600522222
Work and employment visas and renewals
You will need an employer (sponsor) to apply for a work/employment visa. These are not issued by the embassy, please contact your sponsor, employer or PRO and follow the relevant procedures.
Temporary work in the UAE
If you are going to be carrying temporary work in the UAE, you may be required to obtain a mission work permit from the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE). Please contact your sponsor or host company whether you need this type of visa.
Alternatively, you can contact MOHRE directly on:
Tel: 00971-68027666
Website (online chat service available): https://www.mohre.gov.ae/en/home.aspx
Carrying prescription medication to the UAE
Please visit the following link, under the heading “carrying medication to the UAE”
www.uae-embassy.info (click the “visas” page)