UAE: Your Guidelines to Obtain Transit Visas
The Digital Government provided details regarding the issuance of transit visas in the UAE, emphasizing the availability of two options: a complimentary 48-hour visa and a 96-hour visa priced at 50 dirhams.
It was emphasized that these visas are exclusively handled by national airlines within the UAE, and individuals must secure them before their arrival without the possibility of extending or renewing them.
It was made clear who is able to obtain a transit visa and that people who are allowed to enter the UAE without a visa or who are citizens of countries that are authorized for entrance visas upon arrival do not need to apply for transit visas.
The application process was outlined, stating that national airlines or affiliated travel agencies can assist in obtaining transit visas before travel. Visa applications can be submitted through various smart channels, including e-channels, the UAEICP app, and platforms provided by the General Directorate of Residency and Foreign Affairs in the relevant emirate.
Transit visas come in two durations: 48 hours and 96 hours, with no option to extend the former to the latter. The 48-hour visa is issued to transit tourists traveling continuously to another destination, necessitating coordination with airlines before arrival. Requirements include a passport valid for at least three months, a personal photo with a white background, a travel ticket for an onward journey, and a final destination outside the originating country.
Similarly, the 96-hour visa serves transit tourists on continuous journeys, requiring prior coordination with airlines and meeting specific criteria: a passport valid for at least six months, a personal photo with a white background, a travel ticket for an onward journey, and a final destination outside the originating country.
Additionally, a departure fee of 30 dirhams is levied on travelers via sea and land ports, exempting citizens of the UAE and Gulf Cooperation Council countries, as well as those arriving via tourist ferries through sea ports. The report emphasized that no entity, federal, local, or private, may impose additional fees on transit visas.
