Who needs to worry about a visa – and who does not?
Nationals of Poland travelling to Dubai for tourism or business purposes may use a free visa on arrival. The entry stamp entitles you to a 90‑day stay and is free of charge. All you need is a valid biometric passport.
Important: This privilege applies only to biometric passports; a temporary passport makes you ineligible for a visa on arrival at the border.
When do you need to arrange a visa in advance?
A stay of more than 90 days (e.g. a longer contract or volunteer work): requires contact with the local immigration authority.
Purposes other than tourism or unpaid business meetings – conferences, student internships, longer‑term contracts.
Travelling on a temporary, service or diplomatic passport – the procedure differs from the standard one and requires the consent of the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The most common visa options before departure
• 30 ↔ 30: extending your stay without leaving the country, after contacting the immigration authority.
• 60‑day e‑Visa: single entry, sent by e‑mail in PDF format.
• 90‑day multiple: multiple entry, for those who travel regularly on business.
• Residence visa – sponsored by the employer; includes a medical examination and fingerprinting on arrival.
Documents required for an e‑visa
Passport valid for at least 6 months + colour scan (photo page).
Biometric photo (face front, light background).
Return or onward ticket (PDF with booking reference).
Hotel booking or the address of your host in Dubai.
Medical insurance policy with the word “UAE” in the territorial coverage (required since the pandemic).
Step‑by‑step procedure
Complete the form on the e‑visa platform or via an agent.
Upload your scans and pay the fee by card (currency AED).
Wait for an e‑mail with the approved visa (usually 2–5 working days).
Print the PDF file and present it at airline check‑in; it will be converted into a visa sticker or entry stamp in your passport.
Extending your stay once you are there
Go to a General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs office in Dubai or use the UAEICP app.
Without a visa you may stay in the UAE for up to 90 days in any 180‑day period.
Submit your application at least 5 days before your original visa expires. An overstay fine is charged for each day beyond your authorised stay.
Insurance – why it is not just a formality
Medical care in Dubai is expensive. Choose a policy with a high coverage limit and check whether it includes desert sports; many plans exclude dune bashing in off‑road vehicles.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to pay an exit tax when I leave?
No, the fee is included in the price of your airline ticket.
Does a VOA stamp allow me to enter Abu Dhabi or Sharjah?
Yes, a Dubai‑issued visa is valid throughout the United Arab Emirates.
What if I travel with a child accompanied by only one parent?
Take a notarised consent from the other guardian in English.
May I work on a tourist visa?
No. Paid work without a residence visa may result in deportation and a long‑term entry ban.
When you need a UAE e‑visa
A national of Poland with a biometric passport receives a tourist visa on arrival, free of charge and without an application in advance. The Embassy of Poland in Abu Dhabi states that it is valid for 90 days. The e‑visa from our catalogue is for those who do not have this right, for example foreign nationals residing in Poland.
UAE: e‑Visa: single entry, stay up to 30 days, available in as little as 6 days.
Standard Package: 4 days for checking documents and lodging the application.
Premium Package: we lodge the application within 1 day.
For the application we need a scan of your passport, a photo, a return flight booking, a hotel booking for the entire stay, and a temporary or permanent residence card for Poland.
Temporary passports and transfers in Abu Dhabi
The UAE authorities do not recognise Polish temporary passports or identity cards. You may enter only with a biometric passport valid for at least 6 months from the date of entry. This applies to airports, seaports and land crossings with Oman and Saudi Arabia.
With a temporary passport you may only transit within the international transfer area. On transfers in Abu Dhabi on Wizz Air flights from Katowice and Kraków there is no such transit area: every passenger goes through passport control, and with a temporary passport you may be turned back to your point of departure.
Document legalisation for work and a residence card
A work visa application is lodged by the employer, not the employee. A residence card often requires national documents with legalisation: degree certificate, certificate of no criminal record, birth certificate and marriage certificate. The UAE is not a party to the Apostille Convention, so the document is authenticated in Poland and then at the UAE Embassy in Warsaw, ul. Złota 59.
Legalisation package for the UAE has two options: Standard and Premium. With the Premium package the entire process takes as little as 20 days. You send your original degree certificate.
Questions about medicines and staying outside Dubai
May I take prescription medicines with me?
To bring medicines into the country you need prior approval from the UAE Ministry of Health. As a tourist you may bring a supply for a maximum of 3 months, and for medicines on the list requiring approval for 1 month. Without proof of approval the medicine may be seized at the border.
Where can I extend my stay outside Dubai?
In Dubai, residence issues are handled by the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs. In the other emirates they are handled by the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship.
Will I have to undergo medical tests with a residence visa?
Yes, a blood test is required. A positive result for certain infectious diseases may result in detention and deportation.