Which passport, which visa?
According to the German Federal Foreign Office, you need a regular biometric passport for the UAE. The identity card is not enough, and the temporary passport and temporary identity card are not accepted either. A children's passport (Kinderreisepass) is accepted. New children's passports have not been issued since January 2024, existing ones remain valid until the printed date.
The passport must still be valid for at least six months on entry, otherwise the border authorities will refuse entry, according to the Federal Foreign Office. The Federal Foreign Office also points out that only people with the gender marker "M" or "F" in their passport are admitted, and that entry may be refused if the date of birth is incomplete or a first name or surname is missing.
Travelling with a travel document instead of a passport
If you lose your passport in the UAE, the German mission there can issue an emergency travel document or a temporary passport within a few days, according to the Federal Foreign Office. Both allow you to leave, but not to re-enter the UAE.
No visa needed
You do not need a visa in advance for Dubai. You receive a free stamp on entry.
Common mistakes you can avoid
- Going to the airport with your identity card or a temporary passport.
- Planning to travel with a passport that has less than six months of validity left.
- Working during the visa-free stay: according to the Federal Foreign Office, any work is prohibited, even unpaid work.
- Staying longer than allowed: according to the Federal Foreign Office, this can lead to heavy fines and deportation.
- With two nationalities, entering on one passport and leaving on the other.
Frequently asked questions
Is my German identity card enough for Dubai?
No. According to the German Federal Foreign Office, you need a regular biometric passport that is still valid for at least six months on entry. The identity card and the temporary passport are not accepted.
Can my child travel with a children's passport (Kinderreisepass)?
Yes, according to the Federal Foreign Office, the children's passport is accepted. New ones have not been issued since January 2024, existing ones remain valid until the printed date. It must also still be valid for at least six months on entry.
How long can I stay without a visa?
Up to 90 days within 180 days for tourism, business or visits without taking up work. According to the Federal Foreign Office, the authorities can extend the stay beyond that.
I also have another nationality. What do I need to know?
If you enter with your German passport, you do not need a visa. According to the Federal Foreign Office, you must leave with the same travel document you entered with.
No liability for this information. Entry rules are set solely by the UAE authorities and can change at any time. If in doubt, please call us.
Sources for the entry rules
The information above is based on these pages. Only the UAE authorities decide on your visa.
- Auswärtiges Amt – Vereinigte Arabische Emirate: Reise- und Sicherheitshinweise (opens in a new tab)auswaertiges-amt.de · German Federal Foreign Office (Auswärtiges Amt)
- u.ae – Visa on arrival (opens in a new tab)u.ae · UAE government portal
- Emirates – UAE visa information (opens in a new tab)emirates.com · Airline, not an authority
- flydubai – UAE visas (opens in a new tab)flydubai.com · Airline, not an authority
Dubaivisum.de is a private visa agency, not an authority.
Changes to this page
· all country pages
Country pages rebuilt: separate sections for each nationality, sources from the authorities and airlines, and this change log. The entry rules themselves are unchanged.