Do UAE passport holders need a visa to visit IL?

UAE ordinary passport holders do not need a traditional visa for Israel, but since 1 January 2025 they must obtain an ETA-IL (Electronic Travel Authorization) online before travel. It costs ILS 25, is valid for 2 years, and allows tourist stays of up to 90 days. Under the UAE-Israel visa-waiver framework that followed the 2020 Abraham Accords, Emirati ordinary passport holders are visa-exempt for short tourist visits to Israel. However, Israel's Population and Immigration Authority (PIBA) made the Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA-IL) mandatory for all visa-exempt nationals, including the UAE, effective 1 January 2025. Travelers must apply and receive approval online before boarding their flight to Israel. The ETA-IL is not a visa: it is a pre-travel authorization that screens visa-exempt visitors. It costs ILS 25, is normally decided within 72 hours (often faster), is valid for 2 years or until the passport expires (whichever comes first), and permits multiple entries with stays of up to 90 days per visit for tourism, business, family visit, or study. The passport must be valid for at least six months beyond the intended departure date from Israel. Final admission is always at the discretion of the border officer.