The one-question test
There’s one question that decides which visa you need: are you leaving the UAE again on a booked onward flight within a few days, or are you here for a proper stay? If you’re passing through — landing, spending some time in Dubai, then flying onward on a ticket you already hold — a transit visa, 48 or 96 hours, is built for that. If you’re staying longer, or you don’t have an onward ticket booked yet, a tourist visa, 30 or 60 days, is what you want. Both routes go through the same document check and the same 2–4 working days of processing once submitted — the difference is what each one is designed for.
48 hours vs 96 hours
Both transit visas have to be used to enter within 14 days of issue, and both need an onward flight ticket departing the UAE alongside your passport photo page and photo. The difference is how long you get once you’re in: 48 hours is long enough to see the Burj Khalifa and get a feel for the city between flights. 96 hours — four days — gives you time for a proper look around before you fly on. The 48-hour visa is USD 85; the 96-hour is USD 100.
When a 30-day tourist visa is the better buy
If your time in Dubai is longer than a few days, or you’re flying in as your actual destination rather than passing through it, the 30-day tourist visa is the one to apply for. It’s valid for entry within 58 days of issue, and once you’re in, you get a full 30 days before you need to leave — built for a proper trip, shopping and desert nights, not just a stopover. At USD 165 it costs more than a transit visa, but it’s built for a different kind of trip entirely.
Multiple entry: Oman, Musandam and cruises
If your 30 days in the UAE include a side trip out and back in — a day across the border into Musandam, Oman, or a cruise that sails out of a UAE port and returns to one — the 30-Day Multiple Entry Visa lets you leave and come back more than once within your 30 days, rather than needing a fresh visa each time. It costs more than the single-entry version, USD 310 against USD 165, because it’s built for that kind of back-and-forth trip. If you’re not sure whether your plans need multiple entry or a single entry covers it, ask us on WhatsApp before you apply.
Side-by-side
| Visa | Price | Entry | Stay | Enter within | Documents | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30-Day Tourist | USD 165 | Single entry | 30 days | 58 days of issue | Passport photo page + photo | A full trip, shopping and desert nights |
| 60-Day Tourist | USD 280 | Single entry | 60 days | 58 days of issue | Passport photo page + photo | Long family stays and slow travel |
| 30-Day Multiple Entry | USD 310 | Multiple entry | 30 days | 58 days of issue | Passport photo page + photo | Hopping between Dubai and nearby countries |
| 60-Day Multiple Entry | USD 330 | Multiple entry | 60 days | 58 days of issue | Passport photo page + photo | Business trips with side travel |
| 48-Hour Transit | USD 85 | Transit | 48 hours | 14 days of issue | Passport photo page + photo + onward ticket | A stopover to see the Burj Khalifa |
| 96-Hour Transit | USD 100 | Transit | 96 hours | 14 days of issue | Passport photo page + photo + onward ticket | Four days in Dubai en route elsewhere |
Still not sure which one fits your trip? Message us on WhatsApp with your dates and onward ticket details, and we’ll point you to the right one before you pay for the wrong visa.