Do UAE passport holders need a visa to visit IS?

UAE ordinary passport holders can visit Iceland visa-free for up to 90 days within any 180-day period. No visa is required for tourism or short stays. Iceland is part of the Schengen Area, and the United Arab Emirates has held a Schengen visa waiver since 7 May 2015 (the first Arab state to do so). UAE ordinary passport holders may therefore enter Iceland without a visa for tourism, business, family visits or transit, for a maximum of 90 days within any rolling 180-day period across the entire Schengen Area (not per country). At the border you must hold a passport valid for at least three months beyond your intended departure, issued within the last 10 years, and be able to show proof of onward/return travel, accommodation and sufficient funds. As of 31 May 2026 no electronic pre-authorisation is yet required. The EU's ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System) is scheduled to become operational in the last quarter of 2026, after which visa-exempt UAE travellers will need to obtain an ETIAS authorisation (expected 20 EUR, valid up to 3 years) before travelling. Until ETIAS launches, UAE citizens simply travel on their valid passport. Note that this waiver applies to UAE nationals holding a UAE passport; UAE residents who hold a different (visa-required) nationality must still apply for a Schengen visa.