The quick answer
Entry to the United Arab Emirates is straightforward for most visitors from Europe, North America, Australasia and much of Asia: a large number of nationalities receive entry on arrival without arranging anything in advance. Others apply beforehand, usually through an airline, a hotel or a sponsor. The federal government sets the list and it is the one to check.
This page publishes no number of days, no fee and no passport-validity figure. All are set federally and all have changed.
How it works
The visa is federal rather than per emirate, so one entry covers Dubai, Abu Dhabi and the rest. Immigration is largely automated at Dubai and Abu Dhabi airports, with biometric gates that many nationalities can use, and the process is genuinely quick.
You may be asked for confirmed accommodation and a return or onward ticket. Entry is granted for a period recorded at the border; extension is a separate process and is not automatic. Overstaying carries daily penalties and affects future travel, so check what you were given rather than what you expected.
⚠ Medication, which is the part that matters most
The UAE controls a wide range of substances, and medicines that are routine prescriptions elsewhere can be controlled or prohibited here. That includes some strong painkillers, sleeping tablets, some psychiatric and ADHD medication, and preparations containing codeine. Some over-the-counter products from home are on the list.
Travelers have been detained at UAE airports over medication they carry legally at home. Before you fly:
- Check your specific medicines against the current UAE controlled list rather than assuming.
- Where approval is required, apply for it in advance; there is a formal process.
- Carry everything in original labeled packaging.
- Carry the prescription or a doctor's letter.
The same applies to anything containing cannabis or CBD, including products legal in parts of the United States, and to poppy seeds. Penalties for drug offenses here are severe and are applied to visitors.
Other customs points
There are limits on alcohol and tobacco brought in, and they differ by emirate of entry. E-cigarettes are permitted subject to rules that have changed. Pork products are restricted. Material considered offensive, and anything political about the region, is best left at home. Drones need permission. Medicines aside, the general rule is the usual one: if you are wondering, check first.
Health documents
Proof of yellow fever vaccination may be required from travelers arriving from countries where the disease is present, which affects multi-country routes rather than direct flights. Check current CDC guidance and allow time for a certificate to take effect.
Transiting and stopovers
Both Dubai and Abu Dhabi are major hubs and both promote stopovers, with arranged hotel and visa products through the airlines. Note that leaving the airport means entering the country, so everything above applies to a stopover as much as to a stay.
Where to check
The official UAE government portal is the authority for entry. Your own government's travel advice is a useful cross-check and describes UAE rules at one remove. Do not rely on a third-party visa site.
Planning with LABUSA Travel
We confirm what applies to each traveler before booking and raise the medication question early, because it is the one that turns an arrival into an incident.
Sources
- The Official Portal of the UAE Government: federal information for visitors, including entry, residence and public services. Accessed 11 August 2026.
- US Department of State: United Arab Emirates International Travel Information and the current travel advisory. Accessed 11 August 2026.
- UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office: UAE travel advice, including local laws, customs and entry requirements. Accessed 11 August 2026.
- US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Travelers’ Health, United Arab Emirates: vaccination and heat guidance. Accessed 11 August 2026.