United Arab Emirates to North Korea visa requirements

UAE ordinary passport holders need a visa for North Korea (DPRK). As of 18 June 2026, North Korea remains effectively closed to general international tourism, with current operator updates saying only Russian passport-holders are being admitted under limited arrangements. There is no visa-free, eVisa, ETA, or self-service visa-on-arrival channel for a United Arab Emirates ordinary passport holder going to North Korea. UAE MoFA lists DPRK as visa-required for normal UAE passports, and its general tips require a passport valid for at least 6 months. Tourism, when available, is arranged only through state-approved guided tours booked through authorized operators, which liaise with DPRK-side partners and an embassy/consulate to obtain approval. The visa is typically issued as a separate paper tourist card (not a passport sticker) and handed to travelers at a pre-tour briefing in China or Russia before entry. Independent travel is not allowed. South Korean and US passport holders cannot obtain DPRK visas at all; UAE nationals are eligible in principle when the country is admitting their nationality. Critically, as of 18 June 2026 North Korea has not reopened to general international tourism: Young Pioneer Tours' 17 June 2026 update says the DPRK remains closed to international tourism except limited Russian-national arrangements, and Koryo Tours' June 2026 update says North Korea tourism is open only to Russian passport-holders and unavailable to all others. No official reopening date for other nationalities has been announced, so a UAE traveler cannot currently obtain a tourist visa or enter for tourism in practice.