Got a 12+ hour layover at Dubai or Abu Dhabi airport? Don’t spend it at the gate. The UAE 96-hour transit visa lets you step out for up to 4 days — see the city, do a desert safari, take the kids up the Burj Khalifa — starting from AED 250, processed in 2–3 working days. Same-day express option available for tight layovers.
This is the most popular transit visa for travellers from India, Pakistan, the Philippines and African nations — nationalities that need a pre-arranged UAE visa even for a short stopover. If your layover is shorter than 48 hours, the 48-hour transit visa may be a better fit and is often free through your airline.
Who needs the 96-hour transit visa?
You need it if:
- You hold a passport from a pre-arranged-visa country (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Philippines, most African nations).
- You have a layover at Dubai (DXB or DWC) or Abu Dhabi (AUH) airport.
- You want to leave the terminal — sleep at a hotel, see the city, take a tour.
- Your onward flight out of UAE is within 96 hours of arrival.
You don’t need a transit visa if you’re staying inside the terminal (most airports have hotels and lounges airside). And you don’t need it if you hold a passport with UAE visa-on-arrival (USA, UK, EU, Japan, S Korea, Singapore etc.) — you get a free 30-day stamp on entry.
96-hour transit visa cost — transparent pricing
Our 96-hour transit visa starts from AED 250 all-in. This includes:
- UAE government transit visa fee
- Free document pre-check before you pay
- Submission through ICA or GDRFA
- WhatsApp status updates
- Visa PDF delivered to your email
Express processing (24 hours) available at additional cost for tight layovers.
Documents required
- Passport copy — clear scan, valid for at least 6 months.
- Passport photo — recent, white background, 35×45mm.
- Confirmed onward flight ticket out of UAE within 96 hours of your arrival.
- Hotel booking for your Dubai or Abu Dhabi stay.
How to apply — 4 steps
- WhatsApp us your documents. Free document check in 30 minutes.
- Pay and we file. Submitted through ICA or GDRFA.
- Standard 2-3 working days. Express 24 hours available for tight layovers.
- Visa PDF to your email. Print and carry alongside your passport.
What can you do in 96 hours in Dubai?
4 days is plenty for a full Dubai experience. Sample itinerary we plan for transit travellers:
- Day 1: Check into hotel near Bur Dubai. Old Dubai walking tour — Gold Souk, Spice Souk, Abra ride across the Creek.
- Day 2: Full-day Dubai city tour — Burj Khalifa, Dubai Mall, Dubai Frame, Palm Jumeirah drive.
- Day 3: VIP desert safari with dune bashing, camel ride and dinner under the stars.
- Day 4: Lazy morning + Marina dhow cruise dinner + airport transfer.
For Jain & vegetarian travellers, our Dubai tour packages with Jain food include all the above with guaranteed pure-veg meals at every stop, starting from AED 2,599. Bundle the visa with the package and we waive the visa service fee.
48-hour vs 96-hour transit visa — which is right?
| Feature | 48-hour | 96-hour |
|---|---|---|
| Stay duration | 48 hours (2 days) | 96 hours (4 days) |
| Cost via airline | Free (Emirates, Etihad, flydubai, Air Arabia) | Not available via airline |
| Cost via Arihant | From AED 200 | From AED 250 |
| Hotel booking | Optional | Required |
| Best for | Quick city visit, no tours | Full Dubai experience with tours |