Dubai is the single most-booked international trip from Gujarat — a short flight, no jet lag, tax-free shopping and plenty for families. The one thing every traveller asks first is the visa, and the answer is refreshingly simple: Indian passport holders need a UAE tourist visa, it's issued entirely online, costs from around ₹6,500 all-in for the standard 30-day version, is usually approved in 3-5 working days, and once issued gives you 60 days to enter the country.
Do you need a visa for Dubai?
Yes — every Indian passport holder needs a UAE tourist visa to visit Dubai and the rest of the Emirates. The good news is that it's an e-visa: there's no embassy interview and no need to submit your physical passport, since the whole process runs online through an approved agent or airline and the visa arrives by email as a PDF. There's one exception — if you already hold a valid US visa, a UK/EU/Schengen visa, or a US/UK/EU green card or residence permit, you qualify for a visa on arrival and can skip the pre-application altogether, provided you carry the original document.
Dubai tourist visa types and cost
You choose a visa by how long you want to stay. A 30-day single-entry visa, the right fit for a one-off week-long family holiday, costs from ₹6,500. A 60-day single-entry visa for longer stays or visiting relatives starts from ₹9,500. If you're combining business with a side trip — say a quick hop to Oman — a 30-day multiple-entry visa runs from ₹13,500. These are indicative all-in prices including agency and service fees, and we confirm the exact number on the day you apply.
Documents you need
Compared with a Schengen or US visa, Dubai is refreshingly light on paperwork. You need a passport valid for at least six months from your date of travel, a clear colour passport photo on a white background, a scanned copy of your passport's front page, and confirmed return flight tickets plus a hotel booking — which we provide as part of a package.
How to apply, step by step
The process from Gujarat is straightforward: send a scan of your passport and a photo over WhatsApp or email, we confirm your visa type and exact fee and take a 20% booking amount, we file the UAE application and share the reference the same day, and your e-visa PDF arrives by email to print or keep on your phone. A standard visa is approved in 3-5 working days, though an express service can turn it around in 24-48 hours for a small extra fee — handy when a fare drops and you want to move fast. Booking your visa, flights and hotel together as a package often works out cheaper than buying the visa alone, and it means one team fixes things if a flight is delayed or a booking changes.
Common reasons a Dubai visa is refused
Refusals are rare but almost always avoidable. The usual culprits are a passport with under six months' validity, a blurred or non-compliant photo, a name spelling that doesn't match the passport, or a previous UAE overstay. We check all of this before filing, which is why approval rates through our desk stay high.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Dubai visa cost from Gujarat? A 30-day UAE tourist visa costs from around ₹6,500 all-in when arranged through our Surat desk, and a 60-day visa from about ₹9,500, with express processing adding a small fee.
Do you need to submit your passport for a Dubai visa? No — it's an e-visa, so you only send a scan of your passport and a photo; your physical passport stays with you for travel.
Can you get a Dubai visa on arrival from India? Only if you already hold a valid US, UK, EU or Schengen visa or residence permit — otherwise you will need the e-visa before flying, which we can arrange in a few days.
Explera's visa desk handles the Dubai e-visa application end to end, from documents to filing to the final PDF in your inbox — WhatsApp us your travel dates and we'll quote the whole trip, visa included.
