Dubai’s General Directorate of Identity and Foreigners Affairs has confirmed that single-entry tourist visas, valid for either 30 or 60 days, are issued within 48 working hours of a completed application, according to an Instagram post from the authority.
Applications can be submitted through licensed tourism offices, which handle the process on behalf of travellers. The required documents are straightforward: a personal photograph, a copy of a valid passport, and, for certain nationalities, a national identity card from the applicant’s home country.
Staff at several licensed tourism offices told Al Bayan that processing times are often shorter in practice, with some applicants receiving their visas within two to three hours of submitting complete paperwork.
The directorate framed the service as part of Dubai’s broader effort to position itself as an accessible global destination, with digital services and streamlined entry procedures designed to reduce friction for incoming visitors.
