In this guide
- Do Ethiopian citizens need a visa for Dubai?
- Dubai visa for Ethiopian citizens at a glance
- Dubai visa fees for Ethiopian citizens
- Which visa should you choose?
- Single or multiple entry: which do Ethiopian citizens need?
- Visa validity vs length of stay
- Why Dubai visa applications from Ethiopia get delayed or refused
- After your visa is approved
- Paying from Ethiopia
- Contacting us from Addis Ababa
- How Ethiopian citizens apply online
Do Ethiopian citizens need a visa for Dubai?
Ethiopia is on the UAE's visa-required list, so Ethiopian citizens need a visa before they travel. You apply online and the visa is issued as an e-visa (PDF) that you show at check-in and on arrival. There's no embassy visit.
Your passport must be valid for at least six months from your arrival date.
Entry rules are based on the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs visa exemption list, checked on 21 October 2026. Rules can change, so confirm with ICP or your airline before you travel. MOFA list · ICP
Dubai visa for Ethiopian citizens at a glance
| Visa needed before travel? | Visa required |
| Visa on arrival | No, apply before you travel |
| Cheapest visa | 48 Hours Transit Visa, AED 259 (about ETB 11,391) |
| Visa types we process | Tourist Visa, Transit Visa and Visa Extension |
| Length of stay options | 14 Days, 48 Hours, 96 Hours, 30 Days or 60 Days |
| Multiple entry available | Yes |
| Processing time | 3 - 4 Days |
| Express processing | From AED 750 extra (24-48 working hours), fastest 3-4 hours |
| Extension inside the UAE | Yes, from AED 1649 (about ETB 72,523) |
| Passport validity | At least 6 months from arrival |
| How to apply | Online, no embassy visit |
| Time difference with Addis Ababa | Dubai is 1 hour ahead of Addis Ababa |
| Local currency | ETB |
Dubai visa fees for Ethiopian citizens in AED and ETB
| Visa | Stay | Processing | Price (AED) | ≈ ETB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 Days Dubai Visa | 14 Days | 3 - 4 Days | AED 519 | ETB 22,826 |
| 48 Hours Transit Visa | 48 Hours | 3 - 4 Days | AED 259 | ETB 11,391 |
| 96 Hours Transit Visa | 96 Hours | 3 - 4 Days | AED 449 | ETB 19,747 |
| 30 Days Single Entry Visa | 30 Days | 3 - 4 Days | AED 589 | ETB 25,904 |
| 30 Days Multiple Entry Visa | 30 Days | 3 - 4 Days | AED 1,469 | ETB 64,607 |
| 60 Days Single Entry Visa | 60 Days | 3 - 4 Days | AED 1,839 | ETB 80,880 |
| 60 Days Multiple Entry Visa | 60 Days | 3 - 4 Days | AED 2,939 | ETB 129,258 |
| 30 Days Inside Country Visa Extension | 30 Days | 2 - 3 Days | AED 1,839 | ETB 80,880 |
| 60 Days Inside Country Visa Extension | 60 Days | 2 - 3 Days | AED 2,209 | ETB 97,152 |
| 30 Days A2A Visa Extension | 30 Days | Same Day | AED 1,649 | ETB 72,523 |
| 60 Days A2A Visa Extension | 60 Days | Same Day | AED 2,099 | ETB 92,315 |
Prices include the sponsored visa fee and our service fee and are charged in AED. ETB amounts are approximate; your bank's exchange rate and card fees decide the final charge.
Which Dubai visa should Ethiopian travellers choose?
| Your trip | Best visa | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Holiday or family visit of up to 30 days The lowest-cost way to visit Dubai once. | 14 Days Dubai Visa (Single Entry) | AED 519 (about ETB 22,826) |
| Longer stay of up to 60 days Costs less than extending a 30-day visa later. | 60 Days Single Entry Visa (Single Entry) | AED 1839 (about ETB 80,880) |
| Several trips in and out of the UAE Lets you leave and come back while the visa is valid, for example a side trip to Oman. | 30 Days Multiple Entry Visa (Multiple Entry) | AED 1469 (about ETB 64,607) |
| Stopover in Dubai between flights For a short break on the way to another country. | 48 Hours Transit Visa (Single Entry) | AED 259 (about ETB 11,391) |
| Already in the UAE and need more time Apply before your current visa or entry permit expires. | 30 Days Inside Country Visa Extension (Single Entry) | AED 1839 (about ETB 80,880) |
Single or multiple entry: which do Ethiopian citizens need?
A single-entry visa ends when you leave the UAE. The 14 Days Dubai Visa (single entry) costs AED 519 (about ETB 22,826).
A multiple-entry visa lets you leave and come back while it's valid, for example a day trip to Oman or a stopover on your way home. The 30 Days Multiple Entry Visa (multiple entry) costs AED 1469 (about ETB 64,607).
If you're only flying in and out once, single entry is the better value.
Visa validity vs length of stay
These are two different limits. On the 14 Days Dubai Visa, validity is 58 Days: the window from the issue date in which you must enter the UAE. The stay is 14 Days: how long you can remain after you arrive.
Plan your travel date inside the validity window, and leave or extend before your stay runs out to avoid overstay fines.
Why Dubai visa applications from Ethiopia get delayed or refused
UAE immigration makes the final decision, and no agency can guarantee approval. Most delays we see come from avoidable issues:
- Blurry, cropped or glare-covered passport scans.
- A photo that isn't recent, has a coloured background or shows glasses or shadows.
- A name spelled differently from the passport's machine-readable line.
- A passport with less than six months' validity left on the arrival date.
- A previous overstay, absconding report or unresolved case in the UAE.
- Applying only a day or two before the flight.
After your visa is approved
- Check that the name, passport number and nationality on the e-visa match your passport exactly.
- Keep a printed or saved copy; airlines check it before you board.
- Immigration officers in Dubai may ask for your return ticket and hotel booking or host's address.
- Note your last day of stay and leave or extend before it to avoid overstay fines.
- Track your application any time on our Track Visa page with your application ID.
Paying from Ethiopia
All our prices are in UAE dirhams (AED). If your card is in ETB, your bank converts the amount and may add a foreign transaction fee, so the final charge can be slightly different from the ETB estimates on this page.
Contacting us from Addis Ababa
Dubai is 1 hour ahead of Addis Ababa.
Our help desk answers on WhatsApp 24 × 7, so you can reach us at any hour in Addis Ababa — a 9am to 6pm working day in Dubai is 8am to 5pm there.
How Ethiopian citizens apply online
- Choose Ethiopia as your citizenship and the country you are travelling from in the search above, or press “continue” on a visa below.
- Fill in one online form for every traveller and upload a passport scan and photo.
- Pay the sponsored visa fee and our service fee — both are shown before you pay.
- We review your documents, provide the UAE sponsorship and submit the application to immigration.
- Your approved e-visa is emailed to you. Check every detail against your passport before you fly.
A visa approval does not guarantee entry: the final decision is made by UAE immigration on arrival. Fees, processing times and entry rules can change — the price shown at checkout is the one that applies.