The short answer
No. US citizens with a regular passport do not apply for a visa before they travel to Dubai. A visa on arrival is issued when you land, and it lets you stay up to 90 days in total within 180 days of your first entry. It is a UAE rule, so it also covers Abu Dhabi and the other emirates.
Bring a passport valid for at least six months beyond your arrival date and a return or onward ticket. A visit does not let you work or live in the UAE. To stay longer you need a residence visa, for example through your own free zone company, and this guide shows the steps. Read the current US travel advisory below before you book.
Before you book: the current US travel advisory
The US State Department rates the United Arab Emirates Level 3, Reconsider Travel, because of terrorism and armed conflict. The advisory was last updated on 29 Aug 2026. On 19 Sep 2026 the US Mission in the UAE issued a security alert that warns of possible flight cancellations and airspace closures. The alert also says Americans outside the Middle East should seriously reconsider travel to and through the region.
Read the full advisory before you travel, check your flight with your airline, and enrol in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) so the embassy can reach you.
- US State Department: UAE travel advisory
- US Mission UAE: advisory of 29 Aug 2026
- US Mission UAE: security alert of 19 Sep 2026
- Enrol in STEP
Checked on 25 Sep 2026. Advisories change, so always read the current version.
US entry rules at a glance
These rules are for US citizens travelling on a regular US passport. Each row names the official source we checked on 25 Sep 2026.
| Rule | What it means for a US passport | Official source |
|---|---|---|
| Visa before you travel | Not needed. You do not apply in advance: the visa is issued when you arrive in the UAE. | |
| How long you can stay | Up to 90 days in total, in one stay or several, within 180 days of your first entry. The UAE Embassy in Washington says this period cannot be renewed. | |
| Cost of the visa on arrival | Visit Dubai, the Government of Dubai tourism site, says eligible passport holders get the visa on arrival at no cost. | |
| Passport | A regular US passport valid for at least six months beyond your arrival date. | |
| Ticket | A round-trip ticket or a confirmed ticket to another destination. | |
| Overstaying | A fine is charged for every day you stay beyond the 90 days. | |
| Working | A visit does not allow you to work. To work in the UAE you need a valid work visa, and your employer applies for it. | |
| Diplomatic and official passports | The rules on this page cover regular passports only. If you hold another type of US passport, ask the UAE Embassy in Washington. |
One older UAE consulate page still describes a one-month stay. The UAE Embassy in Washington and Visit Dubai both gave 90 days when we checked on 25 Sep 2026. If your trip is long, confirm your dates with your airline or the UAE Embassy before you fly.
Planning to base yourself in the UAE?
Fixed package prices for the two free zones we quote most often. Standard is the first package with a residence visa. Every other free zone and every mainland company is quoted in writing.
| Package | Meydan | IFZA | What it includes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | AED 12,500 | AED 12,900 | Licence, memorandum of association, flexi-office address and certificate of registration. No visa. |
| Standard | AED 23,136 | AED 23,436 | Basic plus one residence visa, establishment card, medical, Emirates ID and corporate tax registration. |
| Premium | AED 28,136 | AED 28,436 | Company, one residence visa and business bank account opening assistance. |
Bank account opening is subject to each bank's KYC, compliance review and final approval. We prepare the file, pre-check it against the bank's requirements, and if one bank declines we apply to the next.
Send your business activity and visa count on WhatsApp and you get an itemised written quote.
Ways to stay longer than a visit
A visit is capped at 90 days within 180 days. If you want to come often, work, or live in the UAE, these are the main routes. Each one needs its own application.
| Route | Who it suits | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| 5-year multiple-entry tourist visa | Frequent visitors who do not work in the UAE | You sponsor yourself. Each visit can last up to 90 days and can be extended once for another 90 days. You need a bank balance of USD 4,000 or the equivalent over the last six months, health insurance valid in the UAE, and a return or onward ticket. u.ae: Tourist visa (updated 10 Aug 2026) |
| Residence visa through your own company | Founders and consultants who want to live in the UAE and run their own business | Your free zone company sponsors your investor or partner visa. The steps are in the next section. UAE residence visa |
| Employment visa | People with a job offer from a UAE employer | Your employer applies for your work visa, and its term follows your employment contract. Employment visa costs in Dubai |
| Golden visa | Investors, entrepreneurs and other categories the UAE sets | A long-term residence visa for specific categories. The criteria are on our golden visa page. Dubai golden visa |
From visitor to resident through your own company, step by step
If you want to live in the UAE and run your own business, a free zone company can sponsor your residence visa. These are the steps in order, with the official page behind each one.
- 1
Choose your business activity and a free zone
Your activity decides which free zones can license you. We set up at IFZA, Meydan, DMCC, Dubai World Trade Centre, SPC and RAKEZ, and we quote Meydan and IFZA at the fixed prices above.
- 2
Get your company licence
The free zone registers the company and issues the licence. IFZA says company setup documents can be submitted without being in the UAE.
- 3
Establishment card and immigration file
The company then applies for an establishment card and opens an immigration file. Meydan lists this as the step before the investor visa application.
- 4
Investor visa application
With the establishment card and immigration file in place, the investor visa application is submitted.
- 5
Medical test, security check and Emirates ID
Meydan's investor visa step includes a medical test and the Emirates ID application, and u.ae says every resident must pass a security check and apply for an Emirates ID. Since April 2022 the Emirates ID is the proof of residence, so no visa sticker goes in your passport.
- 6
How long the visa lasts
The term depends on the visa type and the free zone. u.ae says a sponsored residence visa is issued for 1, 2 or 3 years. Meydan says its investor visa is usually issued for two to five years and can be renewed while the company stays active. u.ae says a residence visa is cancelled after more than 180 days in a row outside the UAE, but investors holding valid residence visas are exempt from that rule.
- 7
Sponsor your family
Meydan says investor visa holders can sponsor their spouse and children.
- 8
Open the business bank account
With the licence and your residence documents in hand, you can apply for a business bank account. Bank account opening is subject to each bank's KYC, compliance review and final approval. We prepare the file, pre-check it against the bank's requirements, and if one bank declines we apply to the next.
Processing times depend on the free zone and the authorities. Your written quote lists each step, what you need to provide, and which steps, if any, need you in the UAE.
Tax when an American moves to the UAE
0% personal income tax. Corporate tax is 9% only on profit above AED 375,000, and registration is included in every package from Standard upward.
That is the UAE side only. The IRS says US citizens living abroad remain subject to US tax on their worldwide income, so speak to a US tax adviser before you move.
How First Idea Consultant helps Americans set up from the US
First Idea Consultant has helped founders set up in the UAE since 2015, from our office in Business Bay, Dubai. You can start from the US: you send your business activity and visa count, and we come back with an itemised written quote, prepare the application for the free zone and keep you updated on WhatsApp.
These are the free zones we set up in:
- IFZA (International Free Zone Authority), Dubai
- Meydan Free Zone, Dubai
- DMCC, Dubai
- Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC)
- SPC Free Zone, Sharjah
- RAKEZ, Ras Al Khaimah
We also form RAK ICC offshore companies. An offshore company is a different structure from a free zone company, so ask us whether it fits your plans before you choose it.
- No professional service fee on licence renewals; government and authority fees still apply.
- Premium, at Meydan or IFZA, covers the company, one residence visa and business bank account opening assistance. Bank account opening is subject to each bank's KYC, compliance review and final approval. We prepare the file, pre-check it against the bank's requirements, and if one bank declines we apply to the next. Business bank account opening
Send your business activity and visa count on WhatsApp and you get an itemised written quote.
Questions Americans ask about visiting and moving to Dubai
Do Americans need a visa for Dubai?
Not in advance. US citizens with a regular passport get a visa on arrival when they land in the UAE. You need a passport valid for at least six months beyond your arrival date and a return or onward ticket. Read the current US travel advisory before you book.
How long can a US citizen stay in Dubai?
Up to 90 days in total within 180 days of your first entry, according to the UAE Embassy in Washington and Visit Dubai (checked 25 Sep 2026). The Embassy says this period cannot be renewed, and a fine is charged for each day of overstay. To stay longer, you need a different visa, such as a residence visa.
Do I need a visa for Abu Dhabi or the rest of the UAE?
The same rule applies. The visa on arrival is issued by the UAE, not by Dubai alone, so a US citizen with a regular passport gets it at any UAE entry point, including Abu Dhabi.
Do green card holders need a visa for Dubai?
Your passport decides, not the green card. A US citizen follows the US passport rules on this page. If you hold a green card with another passport, check that nationality on the Visit Dubai visa checker. The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on 25 Jun 2026 that nationals of Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines, Kenya and South Africa who hold a valid US residence permit can get a 14-day or 60-day visa on arrival.
Can US citizens travel to Dubai right now?
The UAE still issues visas on arrival to US citizens, but the US State Department rates the UAE Level 3, Reconsider Travel, because of terrorism and armed conflict (advisory updated 29 Aug 2026, security alert 19 Sep 2026). The US Mission in the UAE says in that alert that Americans outside the Middle East should seriously reconsider travel to and through the region. Read the current advisory, check your flight with your airline and enrol in STEP before you decide.
How much bank balance do I need for the 5-year tourist visa?
u.ae asks for a bank balance of USD 4,000 or the equivalent over the last six months, plus health insurance valid in the UAE and a return or onward ticket. Each visit can last up to 90 days and can be extended once for another 90 days.
Can an American set up a Dubai company without moving there?
You can start from the US. IFZA says company setup documents can be submitted without being in the UAE. A residence visa then needs the establishment card, the entry permit, a medical test and the Emirates ID. Your written quote says which steps, if any, need you in the UAE.
Ready to move from visitor to resident?
Tell us your business activity and how many visas you need. You get an itemised written quote, usually within a couple of hours.
Official sources, checked 25 Sep 2026
- UAE Embassy in Washington: Visas for US citizens
- UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Visa exemptions for non-citizens
- UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs: visa on arrival for six more nationalities (25 Jun 2026)
- Visit Dubai (Government of Dubai): visa information and visa checker
- u.ae: Do you need a visa to enter the UAE (updated 13 Jul 2026)
- u.ae: Tourist visa (updated 10 Aug 2026)
- u.ae: General provisions for the residence visa (updated 24 Sep 2026)
- u.ae: Taxation
- Ministry of Finance: Corporate Tax threshold of AED 375,000 (Cabinet Decision No. 116 of 2022)
- US State Department: UAE travel advisory
- US Mission UAE: Level 3 advisory of 29 Aug 2026
- US Mission UAE: security alert of 19 Sep 2026
- IRS: US citizens and resident aliens abroad (reviewed 9 Jul 2026)
- Meydan Free Zone: partner and investor visa guide (updated 22 May 2026)
- IFZA: documents for remote company setup (1 Apr 2026)
- IFZA: Emirates ID and residence visas