Visa on arrival locations for residents of the UAE: The top eight countries

Dubai: Are you having difficulty selecting a holiday destination for Eid Al Etihad or the winter break? If you seek a location that does not necessitate applying for a visa weeks ahead and has direct flights from the UAE, there are numerous options to explore.

Certain destinations allow visa-free entry, while others grant visas upon arrival specifically for expatriates from the UAE. Regardless of your nationality, here are several convenient travel locations to relish during your summer vacation.

1. Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan and Georgia have gained significant popularity as quick travel destinations for residents of the UAE, with several packages offered by UAE-based airlines to these countries, as stated by Haris Bashir, a travel consultant at Chinnar Travels, a Dubai-based travel agency. “In the past two years, these packages [for Georgia and Azerbaijan] have become extremely popular among residents … they encompass flight tickets and hotel accommodations,” he remarked.

“For Azerbaijan, there are two options available – firstly, you can apply for an eVisa online prior to your journey, or secondly, you can obtain a visa on arrival, which will be stamped in your passport upon your arrival there,” Bashir explained. Although both visa options are priced at approximately Dh140, Bashir noted that the benefit of applying for an eVisa is the reduced time spent at the airport upon landing.

“If you opt for a visa on arrival, you will need to scan your passport at the smart machines installed at the airport and input your trip details to receive the visa on arrival. Conversely, if you possess an eVisa, you can proceed directly to the immigration counter,” Bashir added.

Visa requirements
– Your passport must be valid for a minimum of six months
– Your UAE residence visa must be valid for at least three months.

Visa validity
You are permitted to stay in the country for a maximum of 30 days with either an eVisa or a visa on arrival.

2. Georgia

According to Bashir, Georgia provides only a visa on arrival, which is valid for a duration of 30 days; however, it is essential to ensure that you fulfill the following criteria:

– Your passport must be valid for a minimum of six months.
– Your UAE residence visa should remain valid for at least three months.

He further mentioned that residents of the UAE may be required to present their accommodation, travel, and health insurance information, and they might need to demonstrate that they possess adequate funds for the entirety of their stay. If you purchase a flight with a UAE-based airline, the cost of travel insurance is included in the total fare. Visa validity
A visa on arrival permits you to remain in the country for a maximum of 30 days.

3. Maldives

According to the Maldives Immigration Authority’s official website – immigration.gov.mv, a tourist visa is issued upon arrival for all nationalities visiting the Maldives. The website states, “As such, a foreigner travelling to Maldives as a tourist does not require pre-approval for the visa.”

However, you must meet the following basic entry requirements as outlined by Maldives Immigration:

• A machine-readable passport or travel document with a minimum validity of one month.
• A complete travel itinerary, which includes return tickets, confirmed hotel booking information, and evidence of sufficient funds. Immigration officers in the Maldives may request these details.
• You are required to submit a ‘Traveller Declaration’ form within 96 hours prior to your flight time, upon arrival and departure to and from the Maldives. This form can be completed through the Maldives Immigration online portal – https://imuga.immigration.gov.mv/
• Entry requirements for your onward destinations. For instance, if you plan to return to the UAE after your visit, you should present your passport along with a copy of your UAE residence visa. Both the passport and residence visa must be valid for at least six months.

Visa validity
A visa on arrival permits you to remain in the country for a duration of up to 30 days.

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4. Seychelles

According to the Seychelles Department of Foreign Affairs, individuals from all nationalities are permitted to enter the country without a visa.

“While a visa is not necessary for entry into Seychelles, it is important for visitors to possess a valid passport or other travel documents recognized by the Seychelles government to gain access,” states the official website of the Department of Foreign Affairs of Seychelles.

An entry permit is granted upon arrival to travelers who fulfill the following requirements:

• The passport must be valid for the duration of the intended stay until the traveler returns to their country of origin or residence.
• A valid return ticket or a ticket for onward travel for the entire duration of the visit.
• Confirmed accommodation.
• Adequate funds for the duration of the stay, which is a minimum of US$150 (Dh550) or its equivalent in foreign currency per day. Visa validity
A visa on arrival permits a stay in the country for a maximum of 30 days.

5. Uzbekistan 

Another location that allows UAE residents of all nationalities to enter without a pre-entry visa is Uzbekistan.

Airlines based in the UAE provide direct flights to three key cities in Uzbekistan – Tashkent, the capital, as well as Samarkand and Namangan.

Visa requirements:
To enter Uzbekistan visa-free, UAE residents must fulfill the following criteria:

• An Emirates ID that is valid for a minimum of three months.
• A passport that remains valid for at least six months.

Visa Validity:
Once you submit the necessary documents to passport control, you will receive a visa-free entry valid for 30 days.

To bypass the visa on arrival line at the airport, you may also apply for an eVisa in advance via the official online visa portal of the country – e-visa.gov.uz.

The fee for the eVisa is US$20 (Dh73.45), and the approval process may take up to two business days. Upon approval of your application, the eVisa will be sent to your registered email address in PDF format.

6. Kenya

In 2023, Kenya introduced a significant change to its visa policy, permitting travelers from across the globe to enter the nation without a visa beginning in January 2024. While it is not technically a visa on arrival, travelers are required to apply for an Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) prior to their journey. The eTA is compulsory for all international visitors and must be acquired through the official Kenya eTA website: www.etakenya.go.ke/en. Applications made through third-party services will be automatically rejected, as stated on the official site.

The eTA fee is $34.09 (AED 124.88) per individual, which encompasses both the eTA charge and the bank processing fee. For a detailed guide on the application process, please click here.

7. Indonesia

Residents of the UAE from 97 eligible nations are permitted to apply for an electronic visa-on-arrival (e-VoA) when visiting Indonesia. This group includes citizens from India, the Philippines, Egypt, South Africa, and Morocco.

In October 2024, Indonesia designated VFS Global as the sole private service provider for e-VoA applications. A specialized e-VoA platform is set to be introduced in the first half of December 2024, facilitating the process for residents of the UAE and Saudi Arabia to secure their e-VoA prior to their journey.

8. Armenia

As of July 1, 2025, Armenia has formally opened its borders to citizens and residents of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nations, providing visa-free entry for short visits lasting up to 90 days.

This new policy is applicable to travelers from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, and Oman, and it seeks to enhance tourism by increasing accessibility to Armenia for visitors from the Gulf region.