UAE Visa and Entry Requirements

The short version

Immigration at Dubai and Abu Dhabi is largely automated, with biometric gates many nationalities can use, and it is genuinely quick. Everything that decides whether you are admitted is federal rather than local and is set out once on United Arab Emirates visa and entry requirements. This page is about what happens between the aircraft door and the city.

One visa, both cities

The visa is federal rather than per emirate, so a single entry covers Dubai, Abu Dhabi and the rest of the country. You do not clear anything again to drive between them, and an itinerary that uses both cities is one arrival rather than two.

What the arrival is like

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, and overstaying carries daily penalties and affects future travel. Check what you were given rather than what you expected.

From the airport into the city

The metro, taxis and hotel transfers all serve the airports, and the right choice depends on where you are staying and when you land. See getting around Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

The one thing to settle before you fly

Medication. The United Arab Emirates controls a wide range of substances and some routine prescriptions from home are controlled or prohibited, with a formal approval process where approval is required. It is a federal rule and the airport is where it is enforced. Carry everything in its original labeled packaging with the prescription, and read the medication section of visa and entry requirements before you pack.

What you may not bring in

There are limits on alcohol and tobacco brought in and they differ by the emirate you enter through. Pork products are restricted, drones need permission, and material considered offensive is best left at home. That list is federal and it changes, so it lives on visa and entry requirements rather than here, in one place rather than two that drift apart.

Where to check

The federal government sets the rules. Your own government's travel advice is a useful cross check and describes the rules at one remove.

Planning with LABUSA Travel

We confirm what applies to each traveler's nationality before booking, and we raise the medication question early rather than at the airport.

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.