21 January 2025 | 12 min
21 January 2025 | 12 min
A Dubai transit visa is the type of visa that is given to travelers who are transiting through Dubai and would like to tour the city during their layover.
This visa allows the holder to experience Dubai during the layover period. During your layover period you can maximize and visit some of the most popular sites in Dubai and this will make your layover experience enjoyable.
It is important to note that the transit visa is not required for those travellers who do not plan to leave the airport during the layover. Dubai allows travellers from Sri Lanka and also other countries to layover in the airport without having the transit visa.
The transit visa will also be asked when leaving the airport. This implies that if you have connecting flights and you are not leaving the airport, you are not required to apply for transit visa.
It is advisable to apply for the Dubai transit visa if you have plans to explore the beautiful city during your short layover. If your layover is long and you intend to stay longer and explore the city, it is advisable to apply for 30 days visit visa which will be valid for 30 days.
The transit visa can be acquired in two types according to the layoff time you have. The two visas are a 48 hours and a 96 hours visa for transiting through Dubai.
We will briefly expound about these two visas here:
This Dubai transit is valid for 48 hours just like the name suggests. It allows you to leave Dubai airport during your layover time and stay there for up to 48 hours.
When you apply for this visa, you can leave the airport and explore the city and the surrounding regions in the 48 hours. By the end of 48 hours should be back at the airport. The visa expires 48 hours after you enter the UAE so ensure you are back to the airport and to your next FLIGHT before its expiry.
You cannot extend or renew this visa when it expires. You therefore should leave Dubai before the 48 hours period elapses because after that you are considered to be overstaying the visa.
The 96 hours transit visa was recently introduced to allow travellers more time to explore Dubai during their layover period. This visa allows you 96 hours from the time you enter Dubai to leave the airport and explore the city.
With four days you can visit the major attractions in the city and also tick some items in your bucket list about Dubai. The 96 hours visa also cannot be renewed or extended for any reason. You must therefore exit Dubai before your 96 hours timeframe elapses.
A lot of people usually what to know when the perfect time to apply for a transit visa is? The most ideal and recommended time to apply for it is before you board your flight to Dubai. You should confirm that your application is successful before you arrive in Dubai. When you decide to get the transit visa you can reach out to Arabiers for assistance in getting the visa in the shortest time possible.
The UAE government has put in place some requirements that you should meet when applying for a transit visa.
• Your passport which should have a validity of over 6 months
• A passport sized photo of yourself that is clear and meets all the dubai visa requirements
• To prove you are on transit you must provide an onward ticket to a third destination to show that you are transiting and not in your final destination.
• You also need to provide a birth certificate if you are travelling with a kid below the adult age.
You can opt to apply for a Dubai Transit visa through the airline or a travel agency that works with a UAE based airline. UAE based airlines that can help you process a transit visa include, Emirates, Etihad, Air Arabia and Fly Dubai.
You can also use online platforms like the GDRFA website to apply for the visa.
• First, you should contact Arabiers through WhatsApp or if in Sri Lanka you can visit any of our offices there. Discuss with the agent assigned to you the type of transit visa you want depending on the time you want to layover in Dubai.
• Gather your travel document and send scanned copies to the agent. Such documents include a valid passport, a clear photo and an onward ticket.
• The gent will go through the documents and verify and once they are done, they will submit the application awaiting processing.
• The visa takes 2 to 4 days to be processed but if you are in a hurry you can opt for Dubai express visa services which takes hours.
• Once the visa is processed and issued, you will receive a softcopy of the visa from your agent. You can print and have a physical document alongside other travel documents.
The visa fees you pay to get a Dubai transit visa vary from one type to another. However, the 48 hours transit visa is free and you will not pay for any visa fee.
If you choose to apply the 96 hours visa however, you will be required to pay a visa fee of AED 50.
In addition to the visa fees, you may ask to pay a service fee if you will be using assisted services like those of a travel agent.
All of the Dubai transit visas cannot be extended or renewed for any reason whatsoever. If you apply for a 48 hours transit visa, you need to exit Dubai before the 48 hours period end. You cannot even change a 48 hours visa that you applied for at first into a 96 hours visa.
Once you have completed the application, you cannot apply again for any other type of transit visa or extend the one you have.
The validity of a transit visa starts from the time you enter Dubai and you should exit the airport within the visa's validity period.
There are quite a number of interesting things you can do in Dubai during your layover period. For you to make the most of your short time in Dubai, you can create an itinerary covering your places of interest for the hours you will be available.
You may also consider using the already curated itineraries by travel agencies like Arabiers to help explore Dubai. Arabiers has tour packages for every time frame. from 2 hours to several days.
Here are some of the popular things you can do within a short period and around Dubai airport as you wait to connect your flight.
• Once you leave the airport one of the most popular places are the iconic Burj Khalifa and the Dubai mall. These are popular places that are close to each other. You will enjoy beautiful skyline of Dubai and the breathtaking views of the city from the observation desk of Burj Khalifa.
At the Dubai mall there are q variety of attractions and fun activities you can engage in such as the Dubai Aquarium, underwater zoo and shopping from reputable brands.
• Enjoy the Dubai Fountain Show, a show of lights, water and music just outside Dubai mall in the evenings.
• Tour Downtown Dubai in Deira and along the Al Fahidi District to learn about the history and culture of Dubai souks around the region.
• Go for a dhow cruise, which is a famous activity in Dubai either at Dubai Marina, Dubai Creek or along the Dubai Water Canal.
• Enjoy a thrilling desert safari and if time allows camp overnight there and enjoy a barbeque dinner under the stars.
It is essential to get a Dubai transit visa if you are laying over in Dubai and intend to explore the Emirate. The visa allows you to leave the airport and go sightseeing or other fun activities within its validity period.
You do not have to stay in the airport although your layover period as you can use this short time to explore the major attractions in Dubai. The transit visa will help you maximize the short time you will be staying in Dubai before you continue with your flight to your final destination.