Apply for UAE or Dubai Visa for GCC Residents

A GCC resident or Saudi Iqama holder can apply for a UAE visa online from the Dubai GDRFAD website. Here is the detailed process;

Requirements to apply for a UAE Visit Visa

The following are the requirements to apply for a UAE Visit Visa for a GCC resident or a Saudi Iqama holder;

• Original Iqama with at least 3 months validity. – Check Iqama Expiry Date
• Suitable Profession.
• Passport with at least 3 months validity.
• A personal Photo.
• ID Card issued from your home country.
• The profession must not be changed after getting the visa.
• Credit Card to make online Payment
• The expat sponsor must be traveling with the dependents.

Register with GDRFA Website

Every GCC resident or Saudi Iqama holder has to register with the Dubai GDRFA website to apply for a UAE visit visa;

• Open GDRFA Website https://smart.gdrfad.gov.ae/
• Register New User with Email.
• Enter your details and then click on the “Send OTP” button.
• Enter the OTP and click on the “Register” button.

Apply for the UAE Visit Visa for GCC Residents

After the successful registration;

• Log in to your account https://smart.gdrfad.gov.ae/
• Click on the “New Application“.
• MySelf: New GCC Entry Permit.
• Dependents: New GCC Entry Permit.

On the next page, you must fill out a long application to apply for a UAE Visit Visa as a GCC resident or Saudi Iqama Holder.

Visa Details

• Person Type: GCC Residents.

GCC Residency Details

• Residence Number: Iqama Number.
• Issuing Country: Saudi Arabia.
• Issue Date: Iqama Issue Date.
• Expiry Date: Iqama Expiry Date.

GCC Trip Details

• Arrival Emirate: Dubai.
• Port of Arrival: Hatta Border (traveling by road from Saudi).
• Arriving from country: Saudi Arabia.
• Arriving from: Select the city.
• Booking Reference: Leave it blank if traveling by road.

GCC Sponsor Details

• GCC Sponsor Type: Establishment.
• Enter the name and address of the employer.

If applying for one of the dependents;

• GCC Sponsor Type: GCC Resident.
• Sponsor Nationality: Select the nationality.

Passport Details

• Passport Type: Normal.
• After entering details, click on “Search Data.”
• If no data is found, you will have to enter the data manually.

Applicant Details

• Relationship with Sponsor: Write “Not related” while applying for yourself.
• Profession: Select the profession as per Iqama.

Contact Details

• Enter Contact Details.
• No need to Validate the Mobile Number.

Upload Documents

At this stage of applying for a Dubai Visit Visa, a GCC resident or Saudi Iqama holder needs to upload the following documents with a maximum size of each document to be 100KB;

• ID Card/Birth Certificate Issued from the Home Country.
• Personal Photo.
• Sponsored GCC Residency: Iqama.
• Passport Page.
• Flight Ticket if traveling by Air.

Pay the UAE Visit Visa fee

On the last page, you are required to pay the fee for the UAE Visit Visa. 

• Dubai Visit Visa Fee: AED 260.
• The Fee is Non-Refundable.
• Once the fee is paid, the application will be submitted.
• The visa will be issued within one business day.

Apply for Dubai Visit Visa for Dependents

Once you have received a Dubai visa for the head of the family, you can  apply for the UAE Visit Visa for the dependents of GCC residents or Saudi iqama holders; 

• Go to Dashboard.
• Click on the “New Application“.
• MySelf: Existing Application.
• Dependents: New GCC Entry Permit.

Follow the same process with the only difference in GCC Sponsor Details, where you are required to enter them;

• GCC Sponsor Type: GCC Resident.
• Sponsor Nationality: Select the nationality.
• Attach all the documents as explained above + plus the UAE visit visa for the head of the family. 

UAE-KSA Border

Experience:  The immigration process at the KSA-UAE border was very smooth. Nobody asked me which port of entry I chose, which was my main concern before traveling. I chose the Hatta border, as mentioned in the article above.

At the time of entry to the UAE, you have to pay AED 200 for car insurance within Saudi Arabia. If your car insurance covers the GCC region, print the insurance policy before you travel.

Validity of the UAE Visit Visa

The Dubai visit visa for GCC Residents is valid for;

• Valid Until: You can enter the UAE until this date.
• After the entry, it is valid for a stay of 30 days.
• It can be extended for a period of stay of 30 days only once.

Buying a Salik tag

Once you enter the UAE in your car, you must buy a Salik tag and register your vehicle within 10 days of entry.

• Buy a Salik tag from any petrol pump in the UAE.
• Cost: AED 100 (AED 50 for tag + AED 50 for balance).
• Activate the Salik tag by calling 80072545.
• Stick the Salik sticker on the windshield of your car.
• AED 4 is deducted each time you pass a Salik toll gate.

If you don’t place Salik sticker on your car within 10 days of arrival, there will be a fine of;

• AED 100 on the first instance.
• AED 200 on the second instance.
• AED 400 on each subsequent instance.

Yas Island Theme Parks

If you plan to book Yas Island theme parks with your children, remember this.

• Yas Island has 4 theme parks: Ferrari World, Warner Bros, Sea World, and Yas Water World.
• Better visit these theme parks when all your children are above 130 cm.
• The minimum height for 70% of rides is 130 cm.
• If your child is below 110 cm, only 10% of rides are available.