Taxi are easily available outside of the airport but charging extra and a bit higher rates to anywhere within Dubai. The stand is right in front of the arrival doors.

There are three national airlines in the UAE - the first one is based in Abu Dhabi, called Etihad Airway, and Emirates is the national airlines based in Dubai. Air Arabia is the national airlines based in Sharjah. While Etihad and Emirates fly to many destinations all over the world, Air Arabia is limited to some Arab and Asian countries.

In addition to these airlines, there are many other airlines from different parts of the world. Visitors can come here also by land through the borders of UAE from Saudi Arabia and Oman and people can even travel by land from countries like Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria. Visitors also have another option of travelling by sea as foreign vessels and liners dock at ports such as Port Rashid in Dubai.

Major Airlines:

Local and Regional: (Regional and international flights)
Emirates Airlines 04 214 4444 www.emirates.com
Etihad Airways 02 050 8000 www.etihadairways.com
Air Arabia 06 508 8888 www.airarabia.com
Gulf Air 04 271 3222 www,gulfairco.com
Oman Air 04 351 9330 www.oman-air.com
Qatar Airways 04 229 2229 www.qatarairways.com

International: (International flights)
United Airlines 04 316 6942 www.ual.com
Virgin Atlantic 94 406 0600 www.virgin-atlantic.com
Air France 02 294 5899 www.airfrance.co.ae
American Airlines 04 393 3234 www.aa.com
British Airways 04 307 5777 www.britishairways.com
KLM 04 319 3777 www.klm.com
Lufthansa 04 316 6642 www. Lufthansa.com

Visas & Customs:

It is recommended to check all the UAE regulations and rules before you departure. Requirements are depend on your nationality and country of origin. GCC nationals that are from Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman and Saudi Arabia do not require a visa to visit Dubai.

Citizens from other approved countries, mentioned below can get an automatic visa upon arrival at the airport, the entry visa is valid for 60 days and may extended to one month.

UK, France, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Austria, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Portugal, Ireland, Greece, Cyprus, Finland, Malta, Spain, Monaco, Vatican, Iceland, Andorra, San Marino, Liechtenstein, United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Brunei, Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong.

Residents who are not from GCC countries but who have a high professional status such as company managers, business personnel, auditors, doctors, engineers, pharmacists, or employees working in the public sector, their families and personal staff sponsored by them, are eligible for a non-renewable 30-day visa upon arrival at the port of entry.

If you do NOT fall into one of the country mentioned above, you will require a visa and a sponsor for your visit in UAE. Then sponsor can applies for the visa on your behalf as follows:
a - Hotels & Tourist Companies can apply, on your behalf, for a Tourist Visa (valid for 30 days); or a Service Visa (valid for 14 days); or a Visit Visa (valid for 30 days and possible to extend for other 30 days)

b - Airlines & Airlines operators can apply on behalf of their crew members for a 96-hour Transit Visa.

c - Other Organizations based in the UAE may only apply for Visit Visas and Service Visas.

d - Individuals (Relatives or Friends) already who are resident in the UAE may also apply on your behalf for a Visit Visa subject to some conditions.

Visit Visa:

The Visit Visa applies to tourists who wish to visit and spend more than 14 days in Dubai - UAE, those coming for family visits as well as those on long-term business visits. It requires the sponsorship of any UAE resident who worked in UAE or any company or hotel licensed to operate within the UAE. A refundable AED 2,000 is required to guarantee from expatriates who wish to sponsor distant relatives is applied.

This kind of visa is valid for entry within two months from its date of issue. Must be use before that period. Visit Visa is valid for 60 days and is renewable up to 90 days. A fee of AED 500 is charged for each renewal. In order to complete the application, the sponsor will require the following:
- the visitor's date of arrival and arrival details
- a photocopy of the first few pages of the visitor's passport which must be valid for at least three months.
- Fee of AED 100 for obtaining a visit visa also a fee of AED 10 for visa delivery service by DNATA.
The Visit Visa holder he or she may enter and leave the country through any port of entry in the United Arab Emirates - UAE.

Tourist Visa
Tourist Visa, can be obtained for individual tourists from the following regions:
East and West Europe, Turkey, Bulgaria, Poland, Ukraine, Albania, Russia, the Hellenic Republic, St Kitts-Navis, St Lucia, Mexico, Cuba, Bermuda, Belize, Guyana, French Guiana, Martinique, Antigua and Barbuda, St Vincent, Kingston, Palao other non-defined American nationalities, Thailand, South Africa, Singapore, China, Malta, Cyprus.
Tourist Visa is valid for a 30 day stay and is non-renewable. Tourist Visa requires the sponsorship of hotels and tour operators who bring in visitors from the above listed countries.

Multiple Entry Visas
Multiple-entry Visas are issued to business visitors who have a relationship with either a multinational or other reputable local company. Valid for six months. Fees AED 1,000.

Transit Visa
Transit passengers who happened to stop at Dubai International Airport for a minimum of 8 hours and meeting below mentioned condtions are eligible for obtaining a 96-hour transit visa. These conditions are as follow:
- Airlines sponsored only (prior arrangements maybe required)
- Applications should have confirmed onward booking to the 3rd destination
For transit passengers or those holding special permits, or for visit or mission,
the passport or the document must be valid for at least three months
please note that citizens of the following countries are not eligible for the 96 hours visa on arrival: Somalia, Afghanistan, Iraq, Niger, and Yemen.

You can obtain transit visas if you arriving at Dubai International Airport through arrangement with Emirates Airline if your as passenger for this airline or by Marhaba Services for those travelling on other airlines.

Marhaba Services Tel: 00971 4 2162657; 2164629
email: marhaba@emirates.co

Note to German Citizens
The German citizens (tourists and business people) may apply to the UAE embassy in Germany for a one or two year multiple-entry visa. No sponsor is required. The maximum duration of stay of visa holders 3 months a year. Fee is AED 1,500

Useful shortcut links:

New visa requirements:

http://dnrd.ae/DNRD/News%20And%20Events/News_Detail?id=322&lang=en-GB

Visa fees:
http://dnrd.ae/DNRD/NewsImages/fees-Eng.GIF
UAE visa Form
http://www.uaeinteract.com/travel/uae_visa.pdf
Drug control guidelines
http://www.uaeinteract.com/travel/drugs.pdf

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