Visa free entry: The United Arab Emirates (UAE) remains a leading destination for global travelers thanks to its dynamic blend of modern attractions, rich cultural heritage and world-class infrastructure. As a major tourism hub, the UAE attracts millions of visitors annually, attracted by its luxurious leisure experiences, cutting-edge architecture and a thriving business landscape. By October 2024, citizens of 87 countries can travel visa-free to the UAE, further increasing its accessibility and attractiveness to international tourists. Whether visitors are looking for a luxury vacation, desert adventure or business tourism opportunities, the UAE offers a variety of experiences that meet different interests and needs. With its strategic location and continued investment in tourism infrastructure, the UAE remains a significant player in the global travel industry.
Visitor performance by source market
In 2023, the UAE welcomed a remarkable 28.15 million international tourists, cementing its position as a top global destination. This impressive figure reflects the country's successful strategies in promoting its diverse attractions, from world-class luxury resorts and shopping experiences to rich cultural heritage sites. The growing number of visitors from key regions such as Europe, Asia and the Middle East highlights the UAE's continued attractiveness as a tourism and business hub, based on its advanced infrastructure and strategic location. The country's ability to attract millions of tourists year after year reflects its growing influence in the global tourism industry.
Major source markets Europe: European tourists remain a major group, with large numbers of travelers coming from countries such as the United Kingdom, Germany and France. These visitors are attracted by the UAE's year-round warm weather, luxury shopping and vibrant hospitality industry.
Asia: The number of Asian tourists, especially from countries like India and China, is continuously increasing. Better flight connectivity and optimized marketing strategies have significantly contributed to this growth.
Middle East: The UAE is also seeing growth in tourist numbers from Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, driven by its position as a regional leader in business tourism, leisure and shopping.
This diversity of tourists from different regions strengthens the UAE's position as a true global destination, offering something for every traveller.
Countries where visa-free travel to UAE can be done
As of October 2024, the UAE's visa policy allows visa-free entry for travelers from 87 countries, a move that has significantly boosted its tourism sector. These countries are spread across Europe, Asia, the Americas and other regions, making it easy for a wide range of tourists to explore the UAE without the need for complicated visa processes. This ease of entry has helped the UAE remain competitive on the global stage, especially for short-term visitors and last-minute travelers looking for a convenient, yet exciting destination.
Countries eligible for visa-free travel
- France
- Germany
- Italy
- spain
- denmark
- austria
- luxembourg
- Netherlands
- new zealand
- Switzerland
- Singapore
- Australia
- ireland
- belgium
- San Marino
- poland
- Hungary
- brunei
- south korea
- Japan
- Andorra
- finland
- sweden
- norway
- malta
- united kingdom
- iceland
- Greece
- portugal
- Liechtenstein
- monaco
- United States of America
- Canada
- chile
- Czechia
- lithuania
- estonia
- latvia
- slovakia
- slovenia
- croatia
- israel
- malaysia
- barbados
- Bahamas
- Seychelles
- serbia
- mauritius
- Hong Kong (SAR China)
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Georgia
- albania
- cyprus
- bulgaria
- romania
- argentina
- Queue
- brazil
- uruguay
- costa rica
- Mexico
- Vatican City
- paraguay
- Colombia
- peru
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
- maldives
- El Salvador
- honduras
- kazakhstan
- ukraine
- montenegro
- belarus
- solomon islands
- armenia
- Kiribati
- China
- Kosovo
- Russian Federation
- saudi arabia
- Kuwait
- oman
- bahrain
- Nauru
- mongolia
- Uzbekistan
- Azerbaijan