Note: this article on getting a visa for Dubai was written in 2021, when Israelis still needed a tourist visa for the UAE. Israel and the Emirates have since agreed a mutual visa exemption, so check the current entry rules before you travel. Prices and terms below are as originally published.
We hear a lot of confusion and misunderstanding about getting a visa for Dubai. The matter is supposed to be settled soon, but there is still no final date, and until further notice an Israeli who wants to enter Dubai has to obtain a tourist visa.
Airlines will not board passengers without a printed visa, and the authorities will of course not let anyone in without a valid one. It is best to deal with it well before the last minute, and you can even do so before booking your flight.
With fares to the Emirates now low, after Wizz Air Abu Dhabi launched a sale and entered the Israeli market hard with silly prices from 89 shekels each way, demand for visas is rising. On the other hand, the heat expected in the summer months is not especially inviting. Even so, there is plenty to see and do in Dubai and Abu Dhabi in the hot season too.
It is not yet known how long the Emirati authorities will require visas from Israelis. As of now, Israelis must have one and cannot board without it.
What you must know about a visa for Dubai or Abu Dhabi
- The standard visa is valid for 60 days from the date of issue and allows a stay of up to 30 days after entry.
- It is single-entry. Once you have used it to enter Dubai or Abu Dhabi you cannot use it again; for another trip you will need a new one.
- For a fast result, apply through an authorised agent, and make sure it is someone available who will handle the application properly. The authorities sometimes ask for another passport scan or a clearer face photo.
- Photograph the passport straight and sharp, so that every detail is clearly legible.
- Your passport must be valid for at least six months.
- Every Israeli passenger needs one, at any age.
- Foreign passports are exempt, but check with whoever issues the visa whether yours needs one. Some countries’ passports do.
- There are upgraded options, such as a 90-day visa or one with unlimited entries and exits for 30 or 90 days. If you want a long stay, tell the agent.
- The standard visa costs between $95 and $120, depending on the travel agency issuing it.
Delays, and how to avoid them
Because of heavy loads at the authorities and the volume of applications, we are seeing delays in visas for Israelis, and even hearing of passengers who had not received theirs on the day of the flight. A pity.
It is worth going through local travel agencies, even paying a small handling fee, to be sure the visa arrives on time. At Flight Hunter, for example, a visa can be issued through local agents for a $15 handling fee, with no headaches and no worries. It reaches your email address within 24 hours in most cases, and in total it will cost you $110.
Planning the trip itself? Read about Dubai’s must-see attractions and where to stay in Abu Dhabi.
