UAE transit visa: 48-hour and 96-hour permits through the airlines
The UAE transit visa as the official pages describe it: two types of 48 and 96 hours, sponsored by UAE-based airlines, single entry and not extendable, with the Etihad and Emirates channel fees and the hotel-or-host rule for stopovers longer than 24 hours.
The short answer
The UAE issues two transit visas, one for 48 hours and one for 96 hours. Both are sponsored by the UAE-based airline you fly with, must be approved before you arrive, are single entry and cannot be extended. You apply through the airline, a travel agency or an airport hotel. Etihad lists AED 55 for 48 hours and AED 216 for 96 hours; Emirates lists USD 10 and USD 49. If your transit is longer than 24 hours, Etihad requires a confirmed hotel booking or the Emirates ID and residence copy of the person you are staying with.
Key facts
- Types
- 48 hours and 96 hours (u.ae)
- Sponsor
- The UAE-based airline; processed and approved before entry (u.ae)
- Entries and extension
- Single entry; cannot be extended (u.ae; Etihad; Emirates)
- Valid to enter within
- 30 days (Etihad); Emirates says its transit visas are valid for 30 days to enter Dubai
- Etihad fees
- AED 55 (48 hours); AED 216 (96 hours)
- Emirates fees
- USD 10 (48 hours); USD 49 (96 hours); for travel on Emirates tickets outbound from Dubai
Who a transit visa is for
A transit visa is for passengers who change planes in the UAE and want to leave the airport for up to two or four days before continuing to a third country. It is not a short tourist visa: the sponsor is the airline, the ticket must be an onward one, and the permit ends when the hours run out. If your passport is on the visa-on-arrival list you may not need it at all; if you plan to stay longer than 96 hours you need a tourist or visit visa instead.
The rules as u.ae states them
The UAE Government portal is short and specific. "The UAE issues two types of transit visas: one for 48 hours, and another for 96 hours. Transit visas are sponsored by the UAE-based airlines and must be processed and approved before entering the UAE." It adds: "It is a single-entry visa and cannot be extended." You can apply through the UAE-based airline, a travel agency or an airport hotel.
48 hours or 96 hours: what each channel states
| Feature | Etihad Airways | Emirates |
|---|---|---|
| 48-hour fee | AED 55 | USD 10 |
| 96-hour fee | AED 216 | USD 49 |
| Valid to enter within | 30 days | 30 days to enter Dubai |
| Entries | Single | Single |
| Extendable | No | Non extendable |
| Ticket condition | Apply with Etihad; Etihad currently offers only transit visas online | Valid for travel with Emirates tickets outbound from Dubai |
| Transit over 24 hours | Confirmed hotel reservation, or the Emirates ID and UAE residence visa copy of the person you stay with | Not stated on the page we read |
What you will be asked for
- A passport valid for at least six months from entry (u.ae general rule).
- An onward ticket to a third country on the sponsoring airline where the airline requires it.
- For transits over 24 hours with Etihad: a confirmed hotel reservation or the host's Emirates ID and residence visa copy.
- A photograph, if the airline's form asks for one.
How to apply
- Check whether you need one. If your passport receives a visa on arrival, a transit visa may be unnecessary.
- Apply through the airline you fly with, its travel agency partners or an airport hotel, before you travel.
- Pay the airline's fee and provide the ticket and hotel or host details if the stopover is longer than 24 hours.
- Receive approval before departure. The permit must be approved before you enter the UAE.
- Leave before the hours expire. There is no extension; an overstay attracts the AED 50 per day fine that applies to all visa types.
Processing time
The u.ae transit page does not state a processing time. Airline pages give their own guidance, which varies. Apply well before departure; the permit must be approved before arrival.
What people get wrong
- Expecting to extend a transit visa into a holiday. It cannot be extended. If plans change, you need a new tourist or visit visa through a sponsor.
- Applying with an airline you are not flying. The sponsor is the UAE-based airline on your ticket; Emirates limits its transit visas to Emirates tickets outbound from Dubai.
- Forgetting the 24-hour rule. Etihad asks for a hotel booking or host details once the stopover passes 24 hours.
- Treating the airline fee as the government fee. The u.ae fees page says charges sit on ICP and GDRFA service cards; the airline price includes handling.
Next step
If your stopover is longer than 96 hours, or you want to re-enter the UAE more than once, read multiple-entry visit visas or visit visa requirements for the sponsored options.
Any "starting from" figure is an indicative price for our service and excludes government and third-party fees, which vary by activity, visa count and jurisdiction. Government fees shown are official charges from the cited pages at the review date. Your exact, itemised quote is confirmed free of charge in a consultation, with nothing hidden.
Frequently asked questions
Can a UAE transit visa be extended?
No. The u.ae transit page states it is a single-entry visa that cannot be extended, and both Etihad and Emirates say the same on their pages.
Who sponsors a transit visa?
The UAE-based airline. u.ae says transit visas are sponsored by UAE-based airlines and must be processed and approved before entering the UAE.
How much does a transit visa cost?
Etihad lists AED 55 for 48 hours and AED 216 for 96 hours. Emirates lists USD 10 and USD 49. These are the airline channels' prices.
Do I need a hotel booking for a transit visa?
Etihad requires a confirmed hotel reservation, or the Emirates ID and residence visa copy of the person you are staying with, if your transit time is more than 24 hours.
Can I apply for a transit visa at a UAE embassy?
The official channels are the UAE-based airline, a travel agency or an airport hotel. u.ae does not list embassies as a channel for transit visas.
Is a transit visa free for some nationalities?
The airline pages quote fees for the 48-hour and 96-hour permits. Nationalities that receive a visa on arrival may not need a transit visa at all; check the airline's country list and the UAE embassy in your country.
Official sources and review
The rules on this page were checked against the official pages below. We re-check every 60 days and after any announced change.
- UAE Government portal (u.ae)Transit visaChecked 4 September 2026
- Etihad Airways (airline visa channel)UAE visa information — EtihadChecked 4 September 2026
- Emirates (airline visa channel)UAE visa information — EmiratesChecked 4 September 2026
- UAE Government portal (u.ae)Check if you need a visa to enter the UAEChecked 4 September 2026
- UAE Government portal (u.ae)Visa fees and finesChecked 4 September 2026
- UAE Government portal (u.ae)General provisions for the residence visa (overstay fines)Checked 4 September 2026
Government fees, thresholds and processing times change without notice. Where an official page does not state a figure, we say so rather than estimate. Nothing here is legal advice or a decision of any UAE authority.
Immigration UAE is a brand of Cosmos Immigration, a private immigration and business-services consultancy. It is not affiliated with the Government of the UAE, ICP, GDRFA, MOHRE or any UAE government authority.
Stopover longer than 96 hours?
Tell us your route and dates and we will say whether a sponsored visit visa is the right replacement for a transit permit.
No private firm can guarantee the outcome of a UAE visa, residency or licensing application. Decisions rest solely with the relevant UAE authority.