Transit rules · United Arab Emirates
Layover in the United Arab Emirates: transit visa and leaving the airport
Dubai International (DXB) connections normally stay airside; a transit visa is only needed if you are not visa-free / visa-on-arrival eligible and intend to step out of the airport. The UAE foreign ministry lists US, Canada, UK, Australia, NZ, EU states, Switzerland, China, Brazil, Mexico, Japan and Korea as 'Visa Free'; India, South Africa and the Philippines need a visa, but get a visa on arrival if they hold qualifying US/UK/EU (and since 25 June 2026 more) residence documents. Others can get a 48- or 96-hour transit visa, arranged before arrival through a UAE-based airline, travel agency or airport hotel.
At a glance, by passport
| Passport | Change planes airside | Leave the airport |
|---|---|---|
| United States | No document needed to stay airside | Yes, no visa needed |
| Canada | No document needed to stay airside | Yes, no visa needed |
| United Kingdom | No document needed to stay airside | Yes, no visa needed |
| Australia | No document needed to stay airside | Yes, no visa needed |
| New Zealand | No document needed to stay airside | Yes, no visa needed |
| EU / EEA / Switzerland | No document needed to stay airside | Yes, no visa needed |
| India | No document needed to stay airside | Yes, with a visa on arrival · 14 days (extendable once), or 60 days under the 2026 category |
| China (mainland) | No document needed to stay airside | Yes, no visa needed |
| Brazil | No document needed to stay airside | Yes, no visa needed |
| Mexico | No document needed to stay airside | Yes, no visa needed |
| South Africa | No document needed to stay airside | Not without a visa · 14 or 60 days if residence-based visa on arrival applies; else 48/96h transit visa |
| Philippines | No document needed to stay airside | Not without a visa · 14 or 60 days if residence-based visa on arrival applies; else 48/96h transit visa |
| Japan | No document needed to stay airside | Yes, no visa needed |
| South Korea | No document needed to stay airside | Yes, no visa needed |
Changing planes without leaving the airport
Airside means you stay behind passport control: you walk from one gate to the next and never formally enter the United Arab Emirates. Many countries let you do that without any document, some ask for an online authorisation or a transit visa even for this.
Holders of United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, EU / EEA / Switzerland, India, China (mainland), Brazil, Mexico, South Africa, Philippines, Japan and South Korea passports can change planes airside without any document.
Leaving the airport
To see the city you pass immigration and enter the United Arab Emirates like any visitor, so the normal entry rule for your passport applies, however short your stay.
Without a visa: United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, EU / EEA / Switzerland, China (mainland), Brazil, Mexico, Japan and South Korea. With a visa on arrival: India. Only with a visa: South Africa and Philippines.
Transit rules in the United Arab Emirates
UAE 48-hour / 96-hour transit visa
Who: Travellers not eligible for visa-free entry or visa on arrival who want to leave the airport
- sponsored by the UAE-based airline you are travelling on (or a travel agency / airport hotel)
- must be processed and approved before entering the UAE
- single entry, cannot be extended
Source: UAE Government portal (u.ae)
Residence-based visa on arrival (14-day / 60-day)
Who: Ordinary-passport nationals of India, Indonesia, Viet Nam, Thailand, Philippines, Kenya, South Africa
- valid residence permit from the US, EU member states, UK, Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand or Canada (Indians: also a US visit visa or green card)
- 14-day visa AED 100, extendable once; 60-day visa AED 250, single stay, not extendable
- overstay fine AED 50 per day
Source: Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) , UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Your passport in detail
United States passport
Leave the airport: Yes, no visa needed Listed 'Visa Free' by MOFA; stay length (30 vs 90 days) not shown on that page.
Change planes airside: No document needed to stay airside Transit visa needed only to step out of the airport.
Official source: Visa exemptions for non-citizens , Transit visa (updated 28 Jul 2026)
Canada passport
Leave the airport: Yes, no visa needed Listed 'Visa Free' by MOFA.
Change planes airside: No document needed to stay airside As US.
Official source: Visa exemptions for non-citizens , Transit visa (updated 28 Jul 2026)
United Kingdom passport
Leave the airport: Yes, no visa needed Listed 'Visa Free' by MOFA.
Change planes airside: No document needed to stay airside As US.
Official source: Visa exemptions for non-citizens , Transit visa (updated 28 Jul 2026)
Australia passport
Leave the airport: Yes, no visa needed Listed 'Visa Free' by MOFA.
Change planes airside: No document needed to stay airside As US.
Official source: Visa exemptions for non-citizens , Transit visa (updated 28 Jul 2026)
New Zealand passport
Leave the airport: Yes, no visa needed Listed 'Visa Free' by MOFA.
Change planes airside: No document needed to stay airside As US.
Official source: Visa exemptions for non-citizens , Transit visa (updated 28 Jul 2026)
EU / EEA / Switzerland passport
Leave the airport: Yes, no visa needed Germany, France and Switzerland checked: 'Visa Free'. Other EU/EEA states not individually checked.
Change planes airside: No document needed to stay airside As US.
Official source: Visa exemptions for non-citizens , Transit visa (updated 28 Jul 2026)
India passport
Leave the airport: Yes, with a visa on arrival Ordinary passport + US visa or green card, or UK/EU residence visa, each valid at least 6 months: visa on arrival. Since 25 June 2026 residence permits from Singapore, Japan, Korea, Australia, NZ and Canada also qualify. Without these: visa required (pre-arranged, or 48/96h transit visa via airline). Stay: 14 days (extendable once), or 60 days under the 2026 category. Cost: AED 100 (14-day) / AED 250 (60-day) per ICP 2026 announcement.
Change planes airside: No document needed to stay airside As US.
Official source: Visa exemptions for non-citizens , Visa on arrival for citizens of the Republic of India , Six New Nationalities and Six Additional Countries of Residence Added to Eligibility Criteria (25 June 2026) , UAE Grants Visa on Arrival to Nationals of Six Countries Residing Outside Their Home Countries (25 June 2026) , Transit visa (updated 28 Jul 2026)
China (mainland) passport
Leave the airport: Yes, no visa needed Listed 'Visa Free' by MOFA.
Change planes airside: No document needed to stay airside As US.
Official source: Visa exemptions for non-citizens , Transit visa (updated 28 Jul 2026)
Brazil passport
Leave the airport: Yes, no visa needed Listed 'Visa Free' by MOFA.
Change planes airside: No document needed to stay airside As US.
Official source: Visa exemptions for non-citizens , Transit visa (updated 28 Jul 2026)
Mexico passport
Leave the airport: Yes, no visa needed Listed 'Visa Free' by MOFA.
Change planes airside: No document needed to stay airside As US.
Official source: Visa exemptions for non-citizens , Transit visa (updated 28 Jul 2026)
South Africa passport
Leave the airport: Not without a visa MOFA: 'Visa Required'. Since 25 June 2026: visa on arrival with a valid residence permit from the US, an EU state, UK, Singapore, Japan, Korea, Australia, NZ or Canada. Otherwise a pre-arranged transit visa via the airline. Stay: 14 or 60 days if residence-based visa on arrival applies; else 48/96h transit visa. Cost: AED 100 (14-day) / AED 250 (60-day).
Change planes airside: No document needed to stay airside As US.
Official source: Visa exemptions for non-citizens , UAE Grants Visa on Arrival to Nationals of Six Countries Residing Outside Their Home Countries (25 June 2026) , Check if you need a visa to enter the UAE (updated 13 Jul 2026) , Transit visa (updated 28 Jul 2026)
Philippines passport
Leave the airport: Not without a visa As ZA (Philippines added on 25 June 2026). Stay: 14 or 60 days if residence-based visa on arrival applies; else 48/96h transit visa. Cost: AED 100 (14-day) / AED 250 (60-day).
Change planes airside: No document needed to stay airside As US.
Official source: Visa exemptions for non-citizens , UAE Grants Visa on Arrival to Nationals of Six Countries Residing Outside Their Home Countries (25 June 2026) , Check if you need a visa to enter the UAE (updated 13 Jul 2026) , Transit visa (updated 28 Jul 2026)
Japan passport
Leave the airport: Yes, no visa needed Listed 'Visa Free' by MOFA.
Change planes airside: No document needed to stay airside As US.
Official source: Visa exemptions for non-citizens , Transit visa (updated 28 Jul 2026)
South Korea passport
Leave the airport: Yes, no visa needed Listed 'Visa Free' by MOFA.
Change planes airside: No document needed to stay airside As US.
Official source: Visa exemptions for non-citizens , Transit visa (updated 28 Jul 2026)
How much time you get in the city
Being allowed out is half the answer; the other half is the clock. Count the time to get off the plane and through immigration, the trip into town and back, and getting back early enough for security and the gate. Dubai International Airport (DXB): the fastest public option, Dubai Metro Red Line from Airport Terminal 1 or 3 to Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall, takes about 30 minutes, so plan a layover of at least 5 h 35 min.
The planner on each airport page does this for your own flight times and lets you change every assumption.
Questions
Do I need a transit visa for the United Arab Emirates?
Holders of United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, EU / EEA / Switzerland, India, China (mainland), Brazil, Mexico, South Africa, Philippines, Japan and South Korea passports can change planes airside without any document.
Can I leave the airport during a layover in the United Arab Emirates?
It depends on your passport. Without a visa: United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, EU / EEA / Switzerland, China (mainland), Brazil, Mexico, Japan and South Korea. With a visa on arrival: India. Only with a visa: South Africa and Philippines.
How long a layover do I need to leave the airport?
With our cautious defaults (45 minutes to get out, the trip into town and back plus 20%, 120 minutes back before departure, at least 90 minutes in the city): Dubai International Airport (DXB): the fastest public option, Dubai Metro Red Line from Airport Terminal 1 or 3 to Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall, takes about 30 minutes, so plan a layover of at least 5 h 35 min.
Official sources
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Transit visa (updated 28 Jul 2026) (UAE Government portal (u.ae)):
If you are not eligible for a visa on arrival or a visa-free entry to the UAE, and intend to step out of the airport, then you need a pre-arranged transit visa.
-
Visa exemptions for non-citizens (UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs):
Visa Free (United States of America, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Germany, France, Switzerland, China, Brazil, Mexico, Japan, South Korea); Visa Required (South Africa, Philippines, India)
-
Visa on arrival for citizens of the Republic of India (GDRFA Dubai):
This service allows citizens of the Republic of India who hold an ordinary passport to be granted an entry visa to UAE as a visitor for a period of 14 days which can be extended for a similar period for one time only.
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Six New Nationalities and Six Additional Countries of Residence Added to Eligibility Criteria (25 June 2026) (Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP)):
the 60-day visa is issued as a single-entry, non-extendable visa.
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UAE Grants Visa on Arrival to Nationals of Six Countries Residing Outside Their Home Countries (25 June 2026) (UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs):
The total issuance fee for the 14-day visa is AED 100.
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Check if you need a visa to enter the UAE (updated 13 Jul 2026) (UAE Government portal (u.ae)):
Some of the other nationalities can obtain a visa on arrival while others need to apply for a visa in advance.
Checked against these sources on 2026-11-01. Rules change; the airline and the border officer have the final word. Found something out of date? Tell us.