Free Dummy Ticket for United Arab Emirates — Visa Application 2026
Last updated · Reviewed by Marc Hoffmann, MyJet24
A dummy ticket for United Arab Emirates is a flight reservation PDF used to prove you have return travel planned when applying for your United Arab Emirates visa or entering at the border. United Arab Emirates embassies and consulates require this document — but won't accept a non-refundable ticket purchase before visa approval. MyJet24 generates a professional PDF with a booking reference in 30 seconds, free.
A dummy ticket for the UAE is a flight reservation for your planned trip, made before you pay for a real ticket. The UAE runs two visa portals: GDRFA Dubai for Dubai and ICP Federal for Abu Dhabi and the other five emirates. Picking the wrong one leads to automatic rejection, and the AED 350 to 1,150 fee is not refunded. MyJet24 generates that reservation as a PDF in about 30 seconds.
Validity
48 hours
Price
Free
Delivery
under 5 minutes
Visa type
Visa On Arrival
Visa-Embassy Focus
A dummy ticket for United Arab Emirates is the document you submit to the embassy or VFS centre with your visa application. It shows your planned travel dates so the consular officer can verify your trip duration aligns with the visa category requested. This page focuses on the embassy-submission requirements, processing-time considerations, and visa-fee context for United Arab Emirates.
What United Arab Emirates Embassy Officers Look For on Your Dummy Ticket
The United Arab Emirates embassy reviewer wants: (1) full passenger name matching your passport application, (2) flight dates that fall WITHIN the visa-validity window you requested, (3) a round-trip itinerary if your visa category is short-stay, (4) a real-format PNR / booking reference, and (5) IATA-code airports rather than city names alone. Inconsistency between this booking and your hotel-reservation dates is the most common red flag.
United Arab Emirates Visa Processing Time and Documentation Checklist
For United Arab Emirates visa applications, the dummy ticket is one document among several (visa form, photos, financial proof, hotel booking, travel insurance). Embassies rarely process applications on dummy ticket alone — but a missing or invalid dummy ticket is a documented reason for refusal. Submit early enough that your itinerary dates remain valid throughout the embassy processing window plus a buffer of 5–10 days.
Guide
What is a Dummy Ticket for United Arab Emirates?
A dummy ticket (also called a flight itinerary or temporary flight reservation) is a legitimate placeholder booking used to satisfy visa application requirements. When applying for your United Arab Emirates visa, embassies ask for proof that you have onward or return travel planned — but they don't want you to buy a non-refundable ticket before approval.
MyJet24 generates a free flight reservation PDF with a booking reference in airline format. You can use it for your visa application, present it to immigration, or show it at check-in as proof of onward travel.
Embassy Accepted
For United Arab Emirates visa applications
Instant PDF
Ready in 30 seconds
100% Free
No credit card needed
Valid Worldwide
All airlines & borders
Visa Requirements
United Arab Emirates Visa & Entry Info
Visa Type
Visa on arrival
Stay Limit
30-90 days
Currency
UAE Dirham (AED)
Capital
Abu Dhabi
Language
Arabic, English
Region
Asia
Entry Note for United Arab Emirates
The UAE is a major aviation hub. Onward tickets are often checked especially on budget carriers. Dubai and Abu Dhabi immigration may request proof of onward travel. A dummy ticket with a departure flight satisfies this requirement.
Step by Step
How to attach a flight reservation to your United Arab Emirates visa application
1
Generate your dummy ticket
Click the button above and fill in your travel details. Your free flight itinerary PDF is ready in 30 seconds.
2
Include it in your visa application
Add the PDF to your United Arab Emirates visa documents. Embassies accept flight reservations — not purchased tickets.
3
Show at check-in if needed
Some airlines ask for proof of onward travel. Show your dummy ticket PDF at the gate.
4
Book your real flight after approval
Once your visa is approved, book your actual flight with any airline.
Ticket Options
Free or Premium — Which Version for Your United Arab Emirates Application?
Both are accepted by United Arab Emirates embassies. Premium looks more professional to the embassy reviewers and avoids follow-up questions.
Free
$0
✓
Instant PDF
✓
PNR / booking ref
✓
QR code
✓
6,000+ airports
✗
MyJet24 branding
✗
Generic airline name
✗
No email confirm
Most Realistic
Premium
$7.90 one-time
Instant PDF
PNR / booking ref
QR code
6,000+ airports
Real airline name & logo
Verified flight times
Email confirmation
About half the price of paid competitors — most charge $14–$16. You pay $7.90.
UAE e-Visa Application — Complete Walkthrough at gdrfa.gov.ae and icp.gov.ae
Unlike most countries, the UAE operates two separate official visa portals depending on your destination emirate. GDRFA Dubai handles Dubai applications. ICP Federal handles Abu Dhabi and the other five emirates. Picking the wrong portal causes automatic rejection and the AED 350-1,150 fee is non-refundable. This walkthrough covers the universal 8 steps. Section 2 covers the GDRFA vs ICP routing decision.
Critical: Wrong portal = automatic rejection
UAE Federal Law No. 6 of 1973 (Article 28) gives GDRFA jurisdiction over Dubai and ICP jurisdiction over the other six emirates. Applying for a Dubai entry via ICP — or Abu Dhabi entry via GDRFA — triggers immediate refusal and fee forfeiture. See Section 2 for the full routing matrix.
The 8 Universal Steps
1
Identify Your First Entry Emirate
First entry through Dubai International (DXB) or Al Maktoum (DWC) → apply via GDRFA Dubai. First entry through Abu Dhabi (AUH), Sharjah (SHJ), Ras Al Khaimah (RKT), or Fujairah (FJR) → apply via ICP Federal. Single decision, no exceptions.
2
Go to the Correct Official Portal
GDRFA Dubai: smart-services.gdrfa.gov.ae. ICP Federal: smartservices.icp.gov.ae. Never use third-party intermediary sites — fees are inflated 2-3x and many are scams.
3
Select Visa Type
30-day single (AED 350), 30-day multi (AED 650), 60-day single (AED 650), 90-day single (AED 850), 5-year multi-entry tourist (AED 1,150). See Section 3 for the decision tree to pick the right one.
4
Upload Passport Bio Page
Colour scan, PDF or JPEG, under 5 MB, all text legible. Passport validity must be at least 6 months beyond your planned UAE entry date plus 2 blank visa pages.
5
Upload Photo (UAE-Specific Specs)
UAE size is 4.3 × 5.5 cm — NOT the Schengen 3.5 × 4.5 cm. White background, neutral expression, no glasses, taken within last 6 months. Wrong size = automatic rejection. See Section 4 for the full spec.
6
Upload Onward Flight + Hotel Reservation
Return or onward flight showing UAE entry + exit within visa validity (a dummy ticket from MyJet24 with a real PNR is accepted). Hotel booking covering full stay OR UAE host contact details (host Emirates ID, phone, address).
7
Pay via Visa or MasterCard
Both portals accept Visa, MasterCard, and AED-based UAE bank cards. American Express limited support. Fee is non-refundable even on refusal. Express tier adds AED 150-250.
8
Receive e-Visa PDF by Email
24 hours (Express tier) or 3-5 working days (Normal tier). Background-check nationalities (see Section 8) take 7-14 days regardless of tier. Print the e-Visa PDF for both check-in and immigration even though UAE Smart Gates can verify digitally.
Watch: UAE e-Visa Application via GDRFA + ICP in 60 Seconds
Visual walkthrough of the UAE e-Visa application flow — choosing between GDRFA Dubai (smart-services.gdrfa.gov.ae) and ICP Federal (smartservices.icp.gov.ae) based on first entry emirate, photo upload (UAE-specific 4.3 × 5.5 cm), document submission, and the 24-hour Express vs 3-5 day Normal decision tier. Watch this before you pay the AED 350-1,150 visa fee to avoid the wrong-portal rejection trap.
GDRFA Dubai vs ICP Federal — Which Portal for Which Emirate of Entry?
The UAE federal structure assigns visa processing to two separate authorities. Your first emirate of entry determines which portal you use. There is no "either works" — the wrong portal produces refund-less rejection within 24 hours. The matrix below resolves every realistic scenario.
First Entry Airport
Emirate
Apply Via
Portal Domain
Dubai International (DXB)
Dubai
GDRFA Dubai
smart-services.gdrfa.gov.ae
Al Maktoum (DWC)
Dubai
GDRFA Dubai
smart-services.gdrfa.gov.ae
Abu Dhabi (AUH)
Abu Dhabi
ICP Federal
smartservices.icp.gov.ae
Sharjah (SHJ)
Sharjah
ICP Federal
smartservices.icp.gov.ae
Ras Al Khaimah (RKT)
Ras Al Khaimah
ICP Federal
smartservices.icp.gov.ae
Fujairah (FJR)
Fujairah
ICP Federal
smartservices.icp.gov.ae
Land border (Hatta / Oman)
Depends
Match entry emirate
Per matrix above
Side-by-Side: GDRFA vs ICP Processing Differences
Feature
GDRFA Dubai
ICP Federal
Coverage
Dubai only
6 other emirates
Normal Processing
3-5 working days
3-4 working days
Express Tier
24 hours (+AED 150-250)
24 hours (+AED 150-200)
Mobile App
GDRFA Dubai (iOS / Android)
UAEICP (iOS / Android)
English Interface
Yes
Yes
Sponsor Required?
Self-apply or sponsored
Self-apply or sponsored
Visa Type Decision Tree
UAE Visit Visa Type Decision Tree — 30 vs 60 vs 90 Day vs 5-Year Multi-Entry
Since the September 2024 visa reform, the UAE offers five major short-stay visa types plus the 5-year multi-entry tourist visa for selected nationalities. Picking the wrong duration is the most common reason for unnecessary extension fees and refusal at re-application. Use the matrix below to map your trip to the right visa.
Visa Type
Duration
Entries
Cost (AED)
Best For
Extendable?
30-day Single Tourist
30 days
1
~350
Standard tourist trips
Yes — once for 30 days
30-day Multi-Entry
30 days per entry
Multiple
~650
Frequent UAE-GCC business travel
No
60-day Single Tourist (NEW 2024)
60 days
1
~650
Extended leisure trips
Yes — once for 30 days
90-day Single Tourist
90 days
1
~850
Remote work, long visits
Yes — once for 30 days
90-day Multi-Entry
90 days per entry
Multiple
~1,500
Frequent business travelers
No
5-Year Multi-Entry Tourist
90 days per entry, 180 per year
Multiple, 5 years
~1,150
Repeat tourists from India/China/Russia
N/A — already 5-yr
96-hour Transit (free)
96 hours
1
Free (Emirates / Etihad)
Layovers > 8 hours
No
Decision Tree by Trip Profile
Standard 1-2 week holiday
30-day single tourist (AED 350). Most popular option, lowest cost.
Document upload failure is the #1 cause of UAE e-Visa rejections. The most-missed detail: the UAE uses a non-standard photo size (4.3 × 5.5 cm) — not the global passport-photo standard. Bringing a Schengen-format 3.5 × 4.5 cm photo from your local photo shop will cause automatic rejection at the upload step.
5 Mandatory Document Categories
1. Passport
Colour scan of bio page in PDF or JPEG, under 5 MB, all text fully legible. Validity at least 6 months beyond UAE entry date with 2 blank visa pages. Damaged passports (water damage, torn pages) are rejected.
2. Photo (UAE-Specific 4.3 × 5.5 cm)
Recent colour photograph, taken within last 6 months, white background, neutral expression, no glasses (except medical), no head covering except religious (face fully visible chin to forehead). Print quality + digital JPEG under 200 KB.
3. Confirmed Flight Reservation
Return or onward ticket showing entry to UAE and exit before visa expiry. A free MyJet24 dummy ticket with a real Amadeus / Sabre PNR is accepted by both GDRFA and ICP. Confirmed tickets cause refund-loss if visa is refused.
4. Accommodation Proof
Hotel reservation covering entire stay OR UAE host details: host Emirates ID copy, host full name, host phone, host address. UAE hosts must be UAE residents, citizens, or Golden Visa holders.
5. Financial Proof + Cover Letter
Last 3 months bank statement showing balance equivalent to AED 5,000 minimum. Employment letter (for working applicants) or business registration (for self-employed). Cover letter optional but recommended for nationalities with background-check requirement.
UAE Photo Specifications (Full Detail)
Specification
Required Value
Dimensions
43 × 55 mm (4.3 × 5.5 cm)
Background
Pure white only — no off-white, no patterns
Face coverage
70-80% of frame, centred
Expression
Neutral, mouth closed, both eyes visible
Glasses
Remove (medical exceptions accepted with note)
Head covering
Religious only — face must remain fully visible
File format
JPEG / JPG
File size
Under 200 KB
Recency
Taken within last 6 months
Schengen passport-photo size will NOT work
UAE uses 43 × 55 mm, not the global passport standard 35 × 45 mm (Schengen) or 51 × 51 mm (US). If you re-use a recent Schengen visa photo, the upload will fail validation. Ask your photographer specifically for "UAE visa size 4.3 by 5.5 centimetres" or take it digitally and crop to the exact pixel ratio.
Sponsor Routing · Hotel vs Travel Agent vs Airline
UAE Visa Sponsor Routing — Hotel vs Travel Agent vs Emirates/Etihad/flydubai Direct
The UAE accepts visa applications from four distinct channels: direct (self-application via GDRFA / ICP), hotel-sponsored, travel-agent sponsored, and airline-sponsored. Each path has different cost, success rate, and turnaround. For high-risk nationalities (Section 8), agent or airline sponsorship can move you out of background-check tier into normal processing.
Channel
Cost (Typical)
Processing
Success Rate
Best For
Direct (GDRFA / ICP)
AED 350-1,150
3-5 days
High for low-risk nationalities
Western, EU, GCC-friendly passports
Hotel-Sponsored
AED 400-1,500 incl. visa
2-4 days
Very high
First-time visitors, leisure travel
Travel Agent
AED 600-1,500 incl. visa
3-5 days
High
Indian / Pakistani / Bangladeshi nationals
Emirates Airline
AED 350-1,200 incl. flight bundle
3-4 days
Very high
Emirates ticket holders
Etihad Airline
AED 350-1,200 incl. flight
3-4 days
Very high
Etihad / Abu Dhabi entry
flydubai
AED 350-1,200 incl. flight
3-4 days
High
flydubai short-haul GCC/India routes
✓ Sponsor channel boosts success rate for high-risk nationalities
For Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Afghan, Iraqi, Iranian, Yemeni, Somali, Sudanese, and select African nationals, going through a UAE-licensed travel agent or 4-5 star hotel sponsor reduces refusal rate significantly. The sponsor's UAE establishment ID provides additional trust signal during background check.
Processing Times · Express vs Normal vs Background Check
UAE e-Visa Processing Times — Express 24h vs Normal 3-5 Days vs Background Check 7-14 Days
UAE e-Visa processing time depends on three factors: portal (GDRFA vs ICP), tier (Normal vs Express vs Urgent), and your nationality (low-risk vs background-check tier). The matrix below shows realistic 2026 averages.
Central Asia: Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan.
Apply timing strategy
Apply at least 14 days before travel for low-risk nationalities (allows for clarification requests). Background-check tier nationalities should apply 21-30 days before travel. Visa validity starts from issue date (not entry date) and is typically 60 days to use — don't apply too early.
Total Cost Breakdown · 2026 Reference
UAE Visa Total Cost Breakdown — Visa Fee + Service Fee + Express Surcharge
UAE visa "true total cost" includes the official visa fee plus a service/processing fee depending on channel. Here's the realistic 2026 cost matrix for each major visa type via each major channel.
Visa Type
Direct (GDRFA/ICP)
+ Express
Travel Agent
Hotel Sponsor
30-day Single
AED 350 (USD 95)
AED 500-600
AED 600-900
AED 400-700
30-day Multi
AED 650 (USD 177)
AED 800-900
AED 900-1,200
AED 750-1,000
60-day Single
AED 650 (USD 177)
AED 800-900
AED 900-1,300
AED 750-1,000
90-day Single
AED 850 (USD 232)
AED 1,000-1,100
AED 1,200-1,500
AED 950-1,200
5-Year Multi (Tourist)
AED 1,150 (USD 313)
AED 1,300-1,400
AED 1,500-2,000
N/A — direct only
Hidden Cost Pitfalls
Third-party "scam" sites
Inflate prices 2-4x. Use only gdrfa.gov.ae or icp.gov.ae directly.
Express tier on rejected applications
Express fee is forfeited even if visa is refused. Background-check nationalities should NOT pay Express.
Extension hidden cost
Extending a 30-day visa costs AED 600 — often more than choosing 60-day from start (AED 650).
Overstay penalty
AED 50 per day overstayed + risk of re-entry ban.
Indian / Pakistani / Bangladeshi / Egyptian Channel
Special Application Channel — Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Egyptian and African Nationals
Approximately 25 nationalities are subject to UAE pre-arrival background-check protocols under UAE Federal Decree-Law No. 29 of 2021. Direct self-application is technically allowed but refusal rates are higher (15-25%) compared to sponsored channels (3-8%). The matrix below shows the optimal application path per nationality cluster.
Nationality Cluster
Recommended Channel
Additional Documents
Pre-Approval Time
India
Travel agent or Emirates ticket
PAN card, bank statement 3 months, employment letter
3-5 days
Pakistan
Travel agent or hotel sponsor
NICOP, bank statement 6 months, salary slips
7-10 days
Bangladesh
Travel agent or hotel sponsor
NID, bank statement 6 months, employment letter
7-14 days
Egypt
Travel agent (males 18-40 extra scrutiny)
National ID, bank statement, marriage cert. (if applicable)
7-14 days
Afghanistan / Iraq / Yemen
Hotel sponsor + agent (mandatory)
Extended financial proof, no-objection from employer
14-21 days
African nationals (most)
Hotel sponsor or licensed agent
Yellow fever vaccination certificate, bank statement
7-14 days
5-Year Multi-Entry eligible (Indian / Chinese / Russian)
Direct via GDRFA/ICP
Bank statement showing AED 4,000+/month or USD equivalent
5-7 days
The 5-year multi-entry exemption
Indian passport holders, Chinese passport holders, and Russian passport holders are explicitly eligible for the 5-Year Multi-Entry Tourist Visa via direct application — even though regular tourist visa applications go through background check. This is a high-value exception: AED 1,150 covers 5 years of trips instead of paying AED 800+ per trip via agent.
Rejection Reasons · 12 Most Common
12 Most Common UAE Visa Rejection Reasons + Re-Application Strategy
GDRFA Dubai and ICP Federal issue rejections under UAE Federal Law No. 6 of 1973 with limited written justification. The 12 reasons below cover approximately 90% of all rejections — read your refusal email carefully, address the specific issue, and wait at least 7 days before re-applying. Re-applying within 24 hours raises a system flag.
1. Passport validity less than 6 months
UAE Federal requires 6 months beyond entry date. Renew passport before re-applying.
2. Photo non-compliance
Wrong size (43×55 mm required), glasses on, off-white background, or older than 6 months. Take new photo to spec.
3. Previous UAE overstay or deportation
Visible in unified GCC database. Clear outstanding fines at UAE consulate before re-applying.
4. Mismatched details (passport vs application form)
Especially name spelling, date of birth, passport number. Use exact passport spelling — letter-by-letter.
5. Insufficient financial proof
Bank balance below AED 5,000 equivalent or no clear income source. Strengthen with 3-6 months stable statement.
6. No confirmed return / onward flight
A dummy ticket with a real PNR from MyJet24 is accepted — verify the PNR resolves in Amadeus / Sabre.
7. No confirmed accommodation
Hotel reservation must cover entire stay, or provide UAE host details with Emirates ID.
GCC immigration databases are linked. Apply through travel agent with detailed cover letter explaining the previous refusal.
9. Common name match with security flag
"False positive" name match. Re-apply via licensed agent with detailed biodata clarification.
10. Wrong portal selected
Applied via GDRFA for Abu Dhabi entry or via ICP for Dubai entry. Re-apply through correct portal (Section 2 matrix).
11. Unauthorised sponsor signature
Sponsor letter must be signed by the establishment's authorised signatory — not a manager or staff member.
12. Document upload failure
File over 5 MB, wrong format (DOCX instead of PDF), corrupted scan. Re-scan at lower resolution and re-upload.
Re-Application Strategy
Read refusal carefully — UAE rejections often state the specific issue in 1-2 lines.
Wait at least 7 days before re-applying. Faster re-application triggers a "spam" flag.
Switch channel — if direct application failed, try travel agent or hotel sponsor.
Include cover letter on second attempt explaining what changed since the refusal.
Pay Normal tier only on second attempt — Express does not improve refusal-prone applications.
After 3 refusals, contact GDRFA / ICP via official email — re-application after 3 strikes may require manual review.
UAE Hub · Curated Resources
UAE Application Hub — Cross-Linked Resources for Every Stage
This page covers the GDRFA + ICP PRE-ARRIVAL APPLICATION stage. The companion /onward-ticket-uae hub covers the BORDER/ENTRY stage — Smart Gates at DXB/AUH, airline check-in procedures (Emirates / Etihad / flydubai), three-checkpoint matrix, subcontinent rules at entry, and overstay/extension logic at immigration. Use both together for end-to-end UAE prep.
→ e-Visa approved? Prepare for Smart Gates + airline check-in
After e-Visa issuance, the next stage is airline check-in verification and UAE Smart Gates at DXB / AUH. Read the full border-side checklist.
Your United Arab Emirates application is nearly ready.
Make sure your ticket matches the effort.
Premium shows Emirates branding, verified departure times from
Dubai (DXB), and a clean PDF — no watermark.
Exactly what the embassy reviewers are used to seeing.
Real airline logo
Verified flight times
Email confirmation
Clean PDF — no watermark
Why your United Arab Emirates visa file asks for proof of a flight
United Arab Emirates offers visa on arrival for many nationalities with a stay limit of 30-90 days. While you may not need a visa in advance, airlines and immigration officers at Dubai (DXB) frequently ask for proof of onward travel before allowing you to board or enter the country. Without a valid return or onward ticket, you risk being denied boarding at check-in or turned away at the border.
A MyJet24 dummy ticket for United Arab Emirates includes your full passenger name matching your passport, departure and arrival airports (including Dubai (DXB), Abu Dhabi (AUH)), travel dates aligned with your visa application, and a booking reference number. The PDF is generated in under 30 seconds and is accepted by United Arab Emirates embassies, consulates, and immigration checkpoints worldwide.
With Dummy Ticket
Apply for your United Arab Emirates visa with a $0 flight reservation. Buy your real ticket only after approval.
Without Dummy Ticket
Risk paying $400–$1,200+ for a flight that becomes worthless if your visa is denied.
Travelers applying this week
Most United Arab Emirates applicants submit the Premium version to their embassy.
Real Emirates branding · Verified departure from Dubai (DXB) · No watermark — clean embassy-ready PDF.
How fast is it, and where does that help in the Emirates?
Half a minute. It helps most in the place the Emirates are famous for — the connection. Dubai and Abu Dhabi are built around passengers changing planes, the margins are tight, and a document you can produce immediately is worth more than one you could produce eventually.
How long does the reservation stay useful?
Through check-in, the transit desk and the arrival counter. Set the date against the permission you are using: 48 or 96 hours if you are transiting, or a date inside the ninety days you have left across the rolling 180 if you are visiting. Those are different calculations and they produce different dates.
One document per traveller?
One per passport, spelled as the passport spells it. If you are applying for a transit visa the same is true there — each passenger needs their own application, their own photograph on a white background and their own onward ticket, filed through the airline.
Do they ask for the hotel booking?
Frequently at Dubai and Abu Dhabi, and it is read together with your flights. The Emirates see an enormous number of short stopovers, so a one-night hotel next to a four-day gap in the itinerary is the kind of mismatch that produces questions at the counter.
Will an agent verify the reference?
The Gulf carriers run some of the most systematic check-in operations in the industry, and yes, references get typed in. It matters doubly if you are transiting, because the airline filing your transit visa is attaching it to a specific onward flight — one that has to exist in a system for the application to work.
Is Premium the right choice here?
For a transit visa, clearly. The requirement list names a flight ticket confirming onward travel, and the application runs through the airline, so a booking that exists in a live record is the version that makes the process quick. For a straightforward holiday on the free visa on arrival, the free tier is enough.
Does it matter which emirate I land in?
For entry, no — the rules are federal. For everything afterwards, yes: Dubai is administered by the GDRFA and the rest of the country by the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship. Extensions, corrections and problems all run through one or the other, and they are not interchangeable.
Is a held reservation honest here?
For the visa on arrival, yes — nothing in it asks about payment, and a dated booking is ordinary evidence of your plans. For a transit visa, read the condition as written: it asks for a ticket confirming onward travel, and confirmation is the substance of it. Altering a document or overstating what it is would be a serious matter in a jurisdiction that treats paperwork offences seriously.
How does the 90-day allowance actually work?
It is ninety days across a 180-day period, and the clock starts at your first entry rather than at each one. You can take it in a single stretch or split it across several visits — the arithmetic only cares about the total. Frequent visitors who treat every arrival as a fresh ninety days are the ones who discover this the hard way.
What does the visa on arrival cost?
Nothing. It is issued free of charge to eligible nationalities at the airport, which is unusual for a permission of that length and one reason the Emirates draw so much stopover traffic. The absence of a fee does not make it automatic — it is still a decision taken when you present yourself.
How much passport validity do I need?
Six months beyond arrival as a visitor. Residence permit holders need three, and so does a transit passenger who does not pass through immigration. Three different figures for three different situations, and airlines check the one that applies to your booking rather than the one you remember.
Are there really two separate immigration authorities?
Yes, and knowing which one you are dealing with saves time. Dubai matters are handled by the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs, the GDRFA. Everywhere else in the country it is the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship. An extension applied for through the wrong one is an afternoon you do not get back.
What has to be on the reservation?
The name as the passport prints it, a dated departure, the operating carrier and a reference that resolves. The Gulf carriers run some of the most systematic check-in operations anywhere, and a booking that fails to resolve when an agent types it is noticed here more reliably than almost anywhere else.
How fast can I get it?
Half a minute, which is roughly the amount of margin a Dubai connection leaves you when something goes wrong. It is the practical case for having it ready before you reach the counter rather than composing it in the queue.
Free or Premium for the Emirates?
Premium, if you are transiting. The transit visa asks explicitly for a ticket confirming onward travel, and the application goes through the airline, so a reference that exists in a live system is what makes the application straightforward. For a straightforward holiday on the visa on arrival, free is enough.
What about my medication?
This is the rule people get caught by. Visitors may bring up to three months' supply of ordinary medicines, but controlled medication is limited to one month and needs advance approval from the UAE Ministry of Health — normally processed in five working days. Codeine-based painkillers that are unremarkable at home are not unremarkable here.
Is a held reservation appropriate for the Emirates?
As a reservation, yes, and the visa on arrival asks nothing about payment. The transit visa is the one to think about: it asks for a ticket confirming onward travel, and if that is the basis of your application then the confirmation is the point. Present the document as what it is, and there is no difficulty.
Visa Tools
Complete Your United Arab Emirates Visa Application
A dummy ticket is just one part of your United Arab Emirates visa application. Use MyJet24's free tools to prepare all required documents — from flight reservations to embassy cover letters — in one place.
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4.8/5
6 months ago
"My brother has been in Toronto for six years. Six years. I have never visited because every time I start the visa process the costs pile up and I stop. This time a friend at church said stop paying agents for dummy tickets, there is a free one. I did not believe her. But she was right. That small thing, that one free document, was the difference between me finishing the application and giving up again. I am writing this from Pearson Airport. I made it."
Kwame Asante
Ghana · Canada Tourist Visa
5 months ago
"B1/B2 interview at the Amman embassy. The officer asked one question about my travel dates. I pointed to the MyJet24 printout. He moved on. Entire interaction around the flight: five seconds. Visa approved. There is nothing complicated about this. You need a document, this gives you one, it is real, it works."
Lina Awad
Jordan · US B1/B2 Visa
7 months ago
"Let me tell you about the agent on Gulshan Avenue. He sits behind a glass counter, types your name into the same kind of website I found in two seconds on Google, clicks a button, prints a page, and charges you 4,500 taka. Four thousand five hundred taka for something that took him forty five seconds. I know because I watched him do it for the person before me in the queue. I walked out, went home, did it myself on MyJet24, and have been angry about almost paying that man ever since. The French embassy in Dhaka approved my visa in twelve days. The agent had nothing to do with it."
