Dubai travel guide for Indians
United Arab Emirates — visa, money, eSIM, food and safetyCountry-wide essentials live on the United Arab Emirates guide — visa, money, customs and language. Last reviewed .
Visa & entryUnited Arab Emirates
- Type
- e-Visa
- Fee
- ₹6,500
- Validity days
- 60
- Processing days
- 3–5
Documents
- Passport (6 months validity)
- Passport-size photo (white background)
- Confirmed return ticket
- Hotel booking confirmation
Steps
- Apply via your airline (Emirates/Etihad/IndiGo) or dubai.vfs.com
- Upload documents and pay online
- Receive e-Visa PDF by email in 3–5 working days
Alternatives
- Visa on arrival (14 days) — only with a valid US visa/green card, or a residence permit from the UK, EU, Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea or Singapore — ₹2,300 · ICP federal fee AED 100 at the airport or via ICP smart services (GDRFA Dubai's portal charges AED 253 with its service fee); extendable once for another 14 days for AED 250. The qualifying visa/permit must have 6+ months left. Without one of these, Indian tourists need a pre-arranged visa
- Visa on arrival (60 days, single entry) — same eligibility as the 14-day option — ₹5,750 · AED 250 via ICP; issued as a single-entry visa that cannot be extended, so pick this only if you know you are staying past 28 days. Overstay fine is AED 50 a day on either option
MoneyUnited Arab Emirates
- Currency
- AED (Dirham)
Forex cards
- Niyo Global — Zero forex markup; good ATM access
- Fi / Federal Debit — Low markup, instant UPI top-up
- Scapia — No forex markup, travel rewards
- Upi supported
- Yes
- Upi note
- UPI works at NEOPAY terminals (Mashreq) — malls, Emaar attractions like At the Top Burj Khalifa, many restaurants and retail; PhonePe, BHIM, GPay and bank apps all work. Debits in INR at the app's rate. Coverage is wide in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, patchier in small shops.
- Cash vs card
- Cards accepted almost everywhere; keep ~AED 200 cash for taxis and souks.
CustomsUnited Arab Emirates
Into india
- Duty-free allowance ₹75,000 (returning resident, Baggage Rules 2026); one new laptop is duty-free on top
- Gold jewellery: 20g (men)/40g (women) duty-free by weight, only after more than a year abroad; everything else must be declared
- 2L alcohol duty-free (Baggage Rules 2016) + 100 cigarettes
Into destination
- 4L alcohol or 2 cartons of beer; 400 cigarettes / 50 cigars / 500g tobacco per adult
- Gifts up to AED 3,000 duty-free — declare above that; cash over AED 60,000 must be declared
- Vapes are legal to bring in for personal use; respect no-vaping zones
- Prescription medicines: carry the prescription; codeine and some psychiatric drugs are controlled — check the MoHAP list before flying
LanguageUnited Arab Emirates
Official
- Arabic
- English prevalence
- Very high — English works everywhere
Key phrases
- Shukran — Thank you
- Marhaba — Hello
Staying connected
Recommended
- Type
- eSIM
- Partner
- Airalo
- Plan
- UAE 3GB / 30d
- Price
- ₹750
Alternatives
- du Tourist SIM — local · AED 125 · Airport kiosk on arrival
- Whatsapp text
- Works
- Whatsapp calls
- Blocked — use WhatsApp call over VoIP-friendly eSIM, or BOTIM
Free wifi
- Dubai Metro
- Most malls
- Airport
Airport to city
Options
- Dubai Metro (Red Line) — ₹200 · 45 · Cheapest; buy a Nol card
- Careem / Uber — ₹1,200 · 25 · Fixed app pricing, no haggling
- Airport taxi — ₹1,400 · 25 · Insist on the meter; avoid unofficial 'limo' touts
Getting around
- System
- Dubai Metro + tram + buses, all on the Nol card
Card
- Name
- Nol Card
- Note
- Buy a Silver Nol at any metro station; tap on/off
Ride hailing
- Careem
- Uber
- Daily budget
- ₹800
Weather & packing
Best months
- Nov
- Dec
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
Monthly
- Dec — Peak season, ~25°C, perfect for outdoors
- Jul — Extreme heat 45°C+, stay indoors/malls
What to pack
- Light cottons + a layer for over-AC malls
- Modest outfit for mosques (shoulders/knees covered)
- Sunscreen, sunglasses, refillable water bottle
Food
Veg friendly
- Abundant — pure-veg and Jain food easy to find
- Saravana Bhavan, Rajdhani for thalis
Indian restaurants
- Saravana Bhavan — Bur Dubai / Karama · South Indian, pure veg
- Rajdhani Thali — Multiple malls · Gujarati/Rajasthani thali
- Typical meal cost
- ₹700
Safety
Scams
- Unofficial airport 'limo' touts
- Souk overpricing — bargain to ~40%
Emergency numbers
- Police — 999
- Ambulance — 998
- Indian Consulate Dubai — +971-4-3971222
Culture & etiquette
- Dress
- Smart casual is fine; cover shoulders/knees at mosques and Old Dubai
- Tipping
- 10–15% at restaurants if service charge not included; AED 5–10 for valets
Dos
- Carry your e-Visa + passport copy
- Use right hand for greetings/eating
Donts
- No public PDA
- No photos of people without consent
- No eating in public during Ramadan daylight
Top experiences
- Burj Khalifa — burj-khalifa.jpg · World's tallest building — observation decks on floors 124 & 148 · ₹2,500 · 2 · Klook · burj-khalifa · https://affiliate.klook.com/sl/1qk3VeL
- Desert Safari — desert-safari.jpg · Dune bashing, camel ride, BBQ dinner with veg options · ₹2,200 · 6 · Klook · desert-safari · https://affiliate.klook.com/sl/OwQLB3Y
- Dubai Frame — dubai-frame.jpg · Observation deck between old and new Dubai · ₹1,200 · 1 · GetYourGuide · dubai-frame
All experiences in Dubai · 3
Burj Khalifa
2h · From ₹4,900
The world's tallest building (828m). The 124/125 'At the Top' decks are the standard visit; 148 'At the Top SK…
Book ticketsvia Klook