United States passport → United Arab Emirates

United Arab Emirates visa for American citizens

Visa on arrival

Visa on arrival · 30 days

American citizens need a visa for the United Arab Emirates, but can get it on arrival, for stays of up to 30 days. Your passport must be valid for 6 months. Many nationalities get a free visa on arrival; others need a tourist visa in advance via ICP, an airline, a hotel or a licensed agent.

Official details are shown in English.

Status
Visa on arrival
Max stay
30 days
Last checked
30 October 2026

What it means in practice

30 days is about a month. If you arrive on 1 November 2026, your last legal day is 30 November 2026, because the arrival day is day one. Use the stay calculator for your own dates.

For a longer base you need an extension, if one exists, or a different visa from the start. Repeated back-to-back entries are at the officer's discretion.

How the United Arab Emirates counts your stay: Visa on arrival: 30 days (with 10-day grace period for extension) or 90 days depending on nationality (for Russian citizens: 90 days within any 180). Pre-arranged visas: per visa issued.

For United States passports: Free visa on arrival for a one-month stay.

Before you go

Official details are shown in English.

  • Visit visa on arrival — Cost: Free of charge; Stay: 30 days or 90 days depending on nationality. Apply on the official site
  • Optional: 5-year multiple-entry tourist visa (optional) — Before travel, online via ICP or GDRFA Dubai; See ICP / GDRFA fee schedule. Open to all nationalities; 90 days per visit, extendable once by 90 days. Requires a bank balance of USD 4,000 (or equivalent) over the last 6 months, UAE-valid health insurance and an onward/return ticket. Official site

At the border

Official details are shown in English.

  • Passport valid at least 6 months from the date of entry
  • Overstaying incurs fines (e.g. AED 50 per day stated for some visit visas)

How to avoid overstaying

  • Go by your stamp or visa. The date the officer gives you is the one that counts, even if it is shorter than the maximum.
  • Plan to leave a day or two early. With 30 days, book your exit before the last legal day so a cancelled flight doesn't push you over.
  • Extend before you run out. Visit visas can be extended through ICP or GDRFA Dubai ("Extending a visitor visa upon arrival" service). Long stays require a residence visa (work, family, investor, Golden Visa, etc.).
  • What overstaying costs. Overstaying incurs fines (e.g.

Staying longer

Visa-free days are for visits. For months or years in the United Arab Emirates, these are the long-stay routes in Bordr's guide (checked against official sources):

Official details are shown in English.

Costs, income thresholds and how to apply are in the Bordr guide.

Questions

Do American citizens need a visa for the United Arab Emirates?

American citizens need a visa for the United Arab Emirates, but can get it on arrival, for stays of up to 30 days.

How long can American citizens stay in the United Arab Emirates?

Up to 30 days, according to Bordr's data. Visa on arrival: 30 days (with 10-day grace period for extension) or 90 days depending on nationality (for Russian citizens: 90 days within any 180). Pre-arranged visas: per visa issued.

Can I extend my stay in the United Arab Emirates?

Visit visas can be extended through ICP or GDRFA Dubai ("Extending a visitor visa upon arrival" service). Long stays require a residence visa (work, family, investor, Golden Visa, etc.).

What do I need at the border in the United Arab Emirates?

Passport valid at least 6 months from the date of entry; Overstaying incurs fines (e.g. AED 50 per day stated for some visit visas).

When was this checked?

Bordr last checked the entry rules for the United Arab Emirates against official sources on 30 October 2026. Rules change: confirm with the official source before you travel.

Sources and last check

Entry rules for this destination were last checked against official sources on 30 October 2026. Visa-free days come from the passport matrix in the Bordr app, corrected where the official rules differ.

This page is general information, not legal advice. Entry rules change and border officers have the final say. Check the official government source for your destination before you travel.

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