Countries That Require a Pre-Arranged Visa to Visit the UAE

UAE, and more so Dubai, has become a top tourist destination for many travelers. Dubai has invested heavily not only in attracting tourists but also in attracting investors and industry leaders.

The city hosts numerous conferences, expos, and sporting events, all aimed at bringing people to experience it and, of course, spend some dollars.

But to get there, you need to know whether you need a visa.

Related: Countries That are Eligible for a Visa on Arrival for UAE

In this article, we are listing countries that require a pre-arranged visa to enter the UAE. This means you need to apply for and receive approval before your trip.

Here is a breakdown of countries per continent:

Africa – 52

Asia – 29

North America & Caribbean – 14

Oceania – 8

South America – 3

Europe – 2

Note: If you do not want a standard tourist visa, you can apply for a UAE transit visa.

List of All Countries Requiring a Pre-arranged Visa to Visit the UAE

1. Afghanistan
2. Algeria
3. Angola
4. Antigua and Barbuda
5. Bangaldesh
6. Belize
7. Benin
8. Bhutan
9. Bolivia
10. Botswana
11. Burkina Faso
12. Burundi 
13. Cambodia
14. Cameroon
15. Cape Verde
16. Central African Republic
17. Chad
18. Comoros
19. Congo
20. Democratic Republic of Congo
21. Côte d’Ivoire
22. Cuba 
23. Djibouti
24. Dominica
25. Dominican Republic
26. East Timor
27. Egypt
28. Equatorial Guinea
29. Eritrea
30. Ethiopia
31. Gabon
32. Gambia
33. Ghana
34. Grenada
35. Guatemala
36. Guinea
37. Guinea-Bissau
38. Haiti
39. India
40. Indonesia
41. Iran
42. Iraq
43. Jamaica
44. Jordan
45. Kenya
46. North Korea
47. Kyrgyzstan
48. Laos
49. Lebanon
50. Lesotho
51. Liberia
52. Libya
53. Macao
54. Macedonia
55. Madagascar
56. Malawi
57. Mali
58. Marshall Islands
59. Mauritania
60. Micronesia
61. Moldova
62. Morocco
63. Mozambbique
64. Myanmar
65. Namibia
66. Nepal
67. Nicaragua
68. Niger
69. Nigeria
70. Pakistan
71. Palau
72. Palestinian Territories
73. Panama
74. Papua New Guinea
75. Philippines
76. Rwanda
77. Samoa
78. São Tomé and Príncipe
79. Senegal
80. Sierra Leone
81. Somalia
82. South Africa
83. South Sudan
84. Sri Lanka
85. St. Kitts and Nevis
86. St. Lucia
87. Sudan
88. Suriname
89. Swaziland
90. Syria
91. Taiwan
92. Tajikistan
93. Tanzania
94. Thailand
95. Togo
96. Tonga
97. Trinidad and Tobago
98. Tunisia
99. Turkey
100. Turkmenistan
101. Tuvalu
102. Uganda
103. Vanuatu
104. Venezuela
105. Vietnam
106. Yemen
107. Zambia
108. Zimbabwe

Reach out to us if you need assistance obtaining a UAE visa.

However, it is essential to note that the Gulf nations are working on a GCC unified visa that will allow a traveler to obtain one visa enabling them to travel to all Gulf countries, namely Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, and the UAE.