South African citizens generally need a tourist visa for Dubai arranged before travel. If you hold an ordinary South African passport and a valid residence permit from the US, an EU member state, the UK, Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand or Canada, you can instead get a 14-day or 60-day visa on arrival, a scheme announced on 25 June 2026 (UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs announcement of 25 June 2026).
The rules are federal, so they are the same for Dubai as for the rest of the UAE. Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months from the date you enter.
Eligibility and Entry Requirements at a Glance
- Qualifying residence permit holders (and accompanying family members): visa on arrival for 14 or 60 days.
- Everyone else with a South African passport: a tourist visa arranged in advance. We found no general visa-free entry for South Africans on the official pages.
- Passport: valid for at least 6 months from your date of entry.
Check your own position with the government’s check whether you need a visa tool.
Passport and Travel Document Requirements
Your South African passport must be valid for at least 6 months from the date you enter the UAE. Check this against your entry date before you book flights; South African passport renewal takes time.
South African children travelling abroad are subject to South African exit rules, whatever the destination. Generally you need a valid passport and an unabridged birth certificate or equivalent parentage document; gov.za notes that South African children using South African passports do not need to carry a birth certificate. If a child travels with one parent or a non-parent, add a parental consent affidavit or court order and a copy of the non-travelling parent’s ID or passport. See gov.za guidance on travelling with children.
Visa and Supporting Document Requirements
- Visa on arrival (60-day category): passport, personal photo, and a copy of your foreign visa or residence permit.
- Dubai single-entry tourist visa: one personal photo and a copy of your passport, a ticket to continue your journey or leave the UAE, and medical insurance valid in the UAE.
- Visiting a resident relative or friend: proof of kinship, valid UAE health insurance, a return ticket, a passport valid for 6 months, and a sponsor earning at least AED 4,000 a month (first-degree relative), AED 8,000 (second- or third-degree relative) or AED 15,000 (friend).
Sources: GDRFA Dubai, the ICP visa service page and the ICP 60-day visa service, as listed in October 2026.
Financial, Health and Entry Conditions
Fees (as listed in October 2026): visa on arrival costs AED 100 in total for 14 days and AED 250 in total for 60 days. A Dubai single-entry tourist visa costs AED 200 for 30 days or AED 300 for 60 days, plus 5% VAT. GDRFA says fees may vary.
The 14-day visa on arrival can be extended once; the 60-day visa cannot be extended. The 5-year multiple-entry tourist visa is open to all nationalities and needs a bank balance of USD 4,000 (or equivalent) over the last six months, health insurance valid in the UAE for 180 days and a return or onward ticket (UAE government portal). Overstaying a visit visa costs AED 50 per day.
Medication: The UAE does not allow narcotic, psychotropic and other controlled (class A or B) medicines to be freely imported, and some medicines need a permit from the UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention. See the UAE rules on controlled medicines before you pack, and carry your prescription.
How to Prepare or Apply
UAE embassies do not issue tourist visas, so there is no embassy application to make. Your Dubai visa application goes through an airline (the UAE government portal names Etihad, Emirates and flydubai), a hotel, a licensed travel agent, or online with ICP or GDRFA Dubai smart services. For a Dubai visa online from South Africa, GDRFA lists its single-entry tourist visa as available 24/7 with about 48 hours to complete, but the sponsor must be an accredited tourism establishment.
Airline visas come with conditions, including that you fly with that airline. Ask the airline before booking, and confirm fees, because airline and agent charges are not published on the pages we checked.
- Confirm whether you qualify for visa on arrival.
- Check passport validity (6 months from entry).
- Choose an airline, hotel, agent or official online route for the tourist visa.
- Have a return or onward ticket and UAE-valid medical insurance.
- Sort out children’s documents and any medicine permits well ahead.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the Dubai visa requirements for South African citizens?
A passport valid for 6 months from entry, plus either a visa on arrival (only with a qualifying foreign residence permit) or a tourist visa arranged in advance. The tourist visa needs a return or onward ticket and UAE-valid medical insurance.
How do I apply for a Dubai visa online from South Africa?
Use ICP or GDRFA Dubai smart services (UAE Pass or username login) or an airline’s online visa service. Embassies do not issue tourist visas.
Can my airline arrange the visa?
Yes, airlines can arrange tourist visas, but one condition is that you fly with them. The UAE government portal names Etihad, Emirates and flydubai.
What do children need?
South African exit documents: a valid passport and generally an unabridged birth certificate or equivalent, plus parental consent documents if a child does not travel with both parents. Details are on gov.za.
Can I take my prescription medication?
The UAE does not allow narcotic, psychotropic and other controlled (class A or B) medicines to be freely imported, and some medicines need a permit from the UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention. See the UAE rules on controlled medicines before you pack, and carry your prescription.
Confirm the current position with the UAE Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) or GDRFA Dubai before you book. See visa requirements and browse all travel and immigration requirements.