Passport holders from 70+ countries enter the UAE visa-free — 90 days for some nationalities (e.g. most of the EU, Korea) and 30 days, extendable for others (e.g. UK, US, Australia). Not sure about yours? Check the official ICP eligibility tool before booking. Present your passport at the immigration desk and the tourist entry stamp is issued automatically.
Entry procedure
- Confirm your passport has 6+ months validity (standard)
- No special pre-travel paperwork required
- At the immigration counter in the UAE:
- Present your passport
- Brief questions (often none, or "tourism? where are you staying?")
- Fingerprint + face scan (or automated e-gate)
- Tourist entry stamp issued (30 or 90 days by nationality)
Customs declaration
No declaration form required by default. But you must declare if you exceed any of the following limits:
| Item | Duty-free allowance |
|---|---|
| General goods | 3,000 AED (~820 USD) |
| Cigarettes | 400 sticks |
| Cigars | 50 |
| Loose tobacco | 500 g |
| Alcohol (adults, non-Muslim) | 4 liters or 2 boxes of beer (48 cans) |
Prohibited items (absolutely banned)
- Pork and pork-derived products (Islamic prohibition)
- Narcotic substances — even prescribed sleep/anxiety/painkillers from home can be flagged without prior approval
- Obscene materials (adult magazines, certain DVDs, etc.)
- Religious propaganda
- Counterfeit goods / IP-infringing items
Note on prescription medications
- Propofol, sleep aids, strong sedatives, some cough suppressants may be classified as controlled substances in the UAE.
- Even medications lawfully prescribed at home should travel with English prescription + physician's letter. Show customs on request.
- UAE Ministry of Health (MoHAP) pre-approval may be required for long-term medications. Check before departure.
Health / quarantine
- No additional vaccinations required.
- Any COVID-19 measures are largely lifted as of 2026, but verify on the official portal before travel.
Getting from the airport to the city
Dubai International Airport (DXB):
- Taxi: official rank outside each terminal's arrivals. Base fare 25 AED (airport surcharge included). City: 50–100 AED.
- Metro: Terminals 1 & 3 connect directly to the Red Line. Downtown in ~30 minutes.
- Uber / Careem: designated pickup zones per terminal. In-app fare estimate.
Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH):
- No metro. Taxi is standard. City: 60–80 AED.
- Airport bus to the city bus terminal.
- Etihad passengers may be eligible for the free shuttle (Abu Dhabi → Dubai 75 min, Abu Dhabi → Al Ain 90 min) with advance booking.
DXB is among the world's busiest airports. Weekends, public holidays, and the December–February tourism peak can mean extra-long lines — arrive 3 hours ahead.
Contacts
- UAE Immigration Office: 800-5111 / +971-4-313-9999
- Your embassy / consulate — save the main and 24h emergency lines before you fly. See
/guides/healthcare/emergency-numbers.
Converting to a resident visa
Within your visa-free window, you need to transition to an employment visa → Emirates ID to become a formal resident. See /guides/visa/emirates-id. Overstaying triggers a daily fine — treat your visa-free window as a hard deadline.