Apply UAE VISA Online - E-Visa Dubai
Blog Thumbnail

Can You Travel to Abu Dhabi With Dubai Visa? UAE Visa Guide

18 Mar 2024

Can You Travel to Abu Dhabi With Dubai Visa?

For all the travellers who are keen to explore the most popular emirate  city, the UAE, it is a question that often comes up.

Although it may come up as clear as it could be, in order to assure a hassle free journey there are certain pragmatic concerns.

Moving  ahead, let us now dig deeper into the details and get an overview about specific visa types, various challenges one might face during the visa process and also look at some of the tips to have a stressfree journey between these two most popular emirates.

First and foremost let us answer the most frequently asked question:

You can without any doubt land in Abu Dhabi with a Dubai visa but you just have to keep certain points in mind which are as follows:

  • At First, make sure that your Dubai visa is valid for the complete  stay in the UAE, which will also cover your time in Abu Dhabi.
  • All the travellers who are travelling with a transit visa only for Dubai Airport, do not automatically get an entry into Abu Dhabi. You need to have a separate transit visa for Abu Dhabi Airport, in case you wish to explore Abu Dhabi as well.

In certain cases, immigration officials retain the final authority and might also ask for additional documents.

Different Emirates, Separate Regulations

Although, Abu Dhabi and Dubai are neighboring emirates, but they both are running under separate legal and administrative structure. Dubai being the most popular, significant, economic and cultural hub whereas Abu Dhabi is the capital city of UAE.

All emirate has its own administrative policies, its own government, even legal framework is different which results in different regulations, including those related to visas.

All the travellers should be aware that emirates like Abu Dhabi and Dubai has its own visa rules although they are in the same country. Similarly, rules and regulations for entry, eligibility and stay duration can differ accordingly.

So, in order to avoid any last minute hassles, travellers are suggested to follow and check the specific entry requirements for the emirate they plan to visit be it Dubai or Abu Dhabi, also staying alert on any recent changes in the visa process and researching the guidelines thoroughly.

Different Category of Dubai Visa

The policies for Dubai visa comprises of various types cater to meet the needs of all the travellers providing them with both convenience and flexibility in order to acquire appropriate visa for their stay.

Some of the types of Dubai visa easily available are:

  • Tourist visas
  • Business visas
  • Transit visas

Various types of UAE visa are mentioned below:

  • 14 Days Visa:  It is a single entry visa whichpermits the visa holder to stay in UAE up to 14 days only.
  • 30 days Visa: It is a single entry visa which permits the visa holder to stay in Dubai for a period of 30 days, even though the validity will be two months from the date of issue but stay should not be more than 30 days from the date of entry in UAE.
  • 30 days Multiple Entry Visa: This is beneficial for the business visitors who are frequent travelers to UAE which permits the travellers to enter and exit multiple times within 30 days from date of first entry.
  • 60 days Visa: It is a single entry visa which permits the visa holder to stay in Dubai for a period of 60 days from the date of entry in UAE and can be extended up to 60 days while in UAE before expiring the existing visa.
  • 60 days Multiple Entry Visa: It is beneficial for the business visitors who are frequent travelers to UAE as it permits them to enter and exit multiple times within 60 days from the date of first entry.
  • 96 hours Transit visa: This type of visa is only applicable only if a passenger is travelling from Origin Country to a third country via Dubai or vice versa.
  • 5 Years Visa (Multiple Entry): This type of visa are designed for travellers who frequently visit Dubai for Meetings, Conferences, Transit stays, etc. The visa validity will be 60 days from the date of issue but stay should not be more than 90 days from the date of entry in one year in UAE. Also, last 6 months bank statement is required with bank signatures  and stampings and at least maintained 4000 USD or equivalent. Also please make a note: You will get 180 days of Multiple Entry Insurance with this visa.

In order to smoothly process for Dubai visa application following documents should be submitted:

  • Passport copy
  • Photo
  • Residence Visa (if you are living in another country)

Abu Dhabi Visa Requirements

As Abu Dhabi is the capital city of the UAE, the visa requirements for Abu Dhabi are the same as the visa requirements for the entire United Arab Emirates.

Although there might be slight variations depending on the purpose of your visit and your nationality.

Let us now look at various types of Abu Dhabi visa applications:

  • Visa on arrival: This type of visa are only applicable to those travellers coming from the countries who are eligible for visa on arrival at the Abu Dhabi or Dubai airport. But, as the list of eligible countries keep on changing, travellers are suggested to ensure about this type of visa prior to their arrival.
  • Visa-free entry: For short stays in the UAE, citizens from some countries, especially those from GCC countries do not require a visa.
  • Pre-arranged visa: Travellers are suggested to apply for a visa in advance through UAE-Visa.org consulate in your home country or the UAE embassy, if you are not eligible for visa on arrival or a visa-free entry. Also please make it a note, the type of visa you wish to acquire will completely depend on the purpose of your visit.

Certain Consequences & Challenges

Generally it is allowed to travel to Abu Dhabi with a Dubai visa, but the travellers should be aware of certain consequences and challenges:

Certain Consequences are as follows:

  • The worst scenario, travellers might have to face is that they might not be allowed to enter and will have to return to their own country which will lead to potential financial losses and huge inconvenience.
  • Another worst scenario would be impacting your travel schedule, if immigration officers demand additional documentation or clarification which could cause delay at the airport. Moreover, violating visa terms or exceeding visa validity can incur hefty fines. Also remember that visa violations and denied entry can lead to a negative impact with UAE immigration which will also affect your future visa applications.

Some of the Challenges are as follows:

  • Even though your visa allows you to travel to Abu Dhabi, the final decision will be taken by the immigration officials as they might ask for additional documentation or if required they might even deny entry. This will impact your travel plans as it could cause delays or even denied entry.
  • All the travellers are suggested to make sure that your Dubai visa covers your complete UAE stay, along with Abu Dhabi. Travellers travelling on transit visas for Dubai airport  are not allowed to enter Abu Dhabi.
  • In order to ensure your Uae visa covers your entire Dubai and Abu Dhabi stay, always double check your visa validity. Also remember, travellers with expired visas will have to pay huge fines, also leading to entry denial.

Can I exit from Abu Dhabi with Dubai visa?

Yes, it is permitted to exit from Abu Dhabi with a Dubai visa but certain factors should be taken into consideration such as purpose of visit, visa validity and certain potential consequences. In order to avoid any complications during your journey, it is better to go through the visa regulations rigorously.