United Arab Emirates to United Kingdom visa requirements

UAE ordinary passport holders do not need a traditional visa for short UK visits, but must hold an approved Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) for UK travel on or after 22 February 2024. The ETA costs GBP 20, is normally valid for 2 years or passport expiry, and allows multiple stays of up to 6 months each. Emirati (UAE) nationals are visa-exempt for short visits to the United Kingdom and travel under the UK's Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) scheme. The UK ETA national list applies to United Arab Emirates nationals for UK travel on or after 22 February 2024. A separate UK-wide carrier-enforcement milestone took effect on 25 February 2026, when carriers began enforcing the digital permission-to-travel requirement more fully: travellers need a valid ETA, eVisa, or British/Irish passport before boarding. Apply online or via the official UK ETA app before travel. The fee is GBP 20, reflecting the Home Office fee table effective 8 April 2026. Most decisions arrive within minutes, but GOV.UK advises allowing up to 3 working days for cases sent to manual review. The ETA is linked to your passport, is normally valid for 2 years or until the passport expires, permits multiple entries, and allows tourism, permitted business, short study, and landside transit stays of up to 6 months per visit. Airside transit without passing UK border control is currently exempt, while landside transit through UK passport control needs an ETA. An ETA does not guarantee entry; a UK Border Force officer makes the final decision. A new passport number requires a new ETA.