Dubai / UAE Passport Rules for UK Travellers
✓ Checked against GOV.UK today at 1:00am · What's changed
Quick answer: Travelling to Dubai, Abu Dhabi or elsewhere in the UAE? You usually need at least 6 months left on your passport from the date you arrive.
UAE travel requirements at a glance
At least 6 months after arrival.
Usually 3 months if not passing immigration.
Visitor visa normally issued on arrival.
Do not apply to the UAE.
Official source: GOV.UK UAE entry requirements.
Dubai / UAE passport rules: quick summary
- Your passport should have an expiry date at least 6 months after arrival.
- If you are only transiting and not passing immigration, GOV.UK lists a 3-month transit validity check.
- British citizen passport holders can normally get a visitor or tourist visa on arrival.
- The EU 10-year passport rule and Schengen 3-month rule do not apply to the UAE.
Do you need 6 months on your passport for Dubai?
Yes, for a normal trip where you enter the UAE, your passport should be valid for at least 6 months after the date you arrive. This applies whether you are travelling to Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah or another emirate.
- Arrival in Dubai: 10 August 2027
- Passport expiry: 5 February 2028
This would not be valid: the passport expires less than 6 months after arrival. It would need to expire on or after 10 February 2028.
UAE visitor visa on arrival
GOV.UK says British nationals can usually get a visitor or tourist visa free of charge when they arrive in the UAE. The passport is stamped at immigration, and the visitor stay is subject to the UAE's current 90-days-in-180-days rules.
Transit through Dubai or Abu Dhabi
If you are only changing planes in the UAE and are not passing through immigration, the passport validity check can be different. GOV.UK says your passport should have an expiry date at least 3 months after the date you transit. If you plan to leave the airport, collect baggage, enter Dubai, or stay overnight landside, treat it as entry and use the 6-month rule.
Common UAE passport mistakes
- Checking the return date instead of the arrival date.
- Assuming Schengen rules apply because the trip starts in Europe.
- Forgetting that entering the UAE during a stopover is different from staying airside in transit.
- Travelling on a passport reported lost or stolen, which can cause entry refusal.
Check your passport for the UAE
Enter your passport and travel dates. We check them against the GOV.UK rule for the UAE.
Get a free expiry reminder
We'll email you before this passport expires, so you can renew in time. No spam.
For British passports. Other trips? Check several passports or another destination.
Frequently asked questions about UAE passport rules
Do I need 6 months on my passport for Dubai?
Yes, for normal visitor entry you usually need 6 months validity from the date you arrive.
Does the UAE use the Schengen 10-year passport rule?
No. The UAE is not in Schengen and uses separate passport validity rules.
Do I need a blank passport page for the UAE?
It is sensible to have space for entry and exit stamps, even where a specific blank-page rule is not highlighted.
Planning a winter trip?
- Best winter sun destinations – Temperatures from November to March and passport rules