Entry rules for UAE for Russians

No visas, reasonable tickets (compared to Paris), always sunny — all this is about the Emirates. In this article, we've covered the current entry rules for the UAE, what documents to bring if you're planning a vacation, and why you should consider a stopover in Dubai.

How to get to the Emirates

There is direct air service between Russia and the Emirates. Most often, planes fly to Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah. Flights are operated by Aeroflot, Azimuth, Air Arabia, Etihad, Emirates, Flydubai, but this is not the final list.

The cheapest direct Moscow — Dubai flights from "Pobeda" round-trip for late January 2026 cost 25,681 ₽ without transfers. Getting to Abu Dhabi without transfers is even cheaper: prices start from 23,492 ₽. With a transfer in Istanbul, you can fly for 35,931 ₽.

We checked these prices on the Kupi.com website — you can also see how much tickets to Dubai will cost for your desired dates.

Do Russians need a visa to travel?

According to the current entry rules for UAE for Russians, no prior visa application is required. An entry permit stamp will be placed in your passport when you cross the border. This is free of charge.

With such a visa, you can spend no more than 90 days in the Emirates within a 180-day period. This means the maximum stay in the UAE is about three months per half-year. To stay longer, you will need to apply for a long-term visa: for example, a freelancer visa. It is issued for five years. This requires a confirmed annual income of 360,000 AED ($98,000) or more and at least a bachelor's degree.

We have a separate article about visa-free countries for Russians — read it to plan a hassle-free vacation without prior document processing.

Documents required for entry into the UAE

• A foreign passport valid for another six months from the moment of crossing the border with the Emirates. If your passport is expiring, you can apply for a second passport: this is legal in Russia. It takes about a month to process, and you can easily apply through Gosuslugi. And here we wrote about how to get a foreign passport.
• Medical insurance. According to UAE entry rules, it is mandatory to arrange it: the Emirates is an expensive country, and medicine here is also not cheap. The insurance must include treatment for coronavirus. For example, a policy from AlfaStrakhovanie for an adult covering COVID-19 treatment, accident protection, and child evacuation costs 981 ₽. However, if you don't include additional options, you can purchase insurance for half the price.
• Round-trip tickets. These confirm that at the end of your vacation, you intend to fly back to Russia and will not overstay illegally in the country. You can check tickets to the Emirates for suitable dates on the Kupi.com website. Airlines usually flying to the UAE include Air Arabia, Emirates, Azimuth, Pobeda.
• Hotel booking. If you are booking on Booking and do not have a foreign card, choose hotels that do not require prepayment. Then you can print a voucher confirming your reservation.

What you need to enter the UAE with a child

• A separate foreign passport for the child. If the child is simply entered into your passport, you will not be allowed into the Emirates: you need to obtain separate documents for children.
• Consent from the second parent for travel abroad. The condition is as follows: if only one parent flies with the child, you need to bring consent from the other parent with a notarized translation into English.
• Original birth certificate and English translation. This will be needed if the child and parents have different surnames, so that border guards can verify kinship.

How to transport animals

Unfortunately, you cannot take a pet into the cabin if you are flying to the Emirates. This is prohibited. According to UAE federal laws, pets are imported into the country as declared cargo. Therefore, you can only transport your pet in the cargo hold. You can read more about the cost of transporting an animal on the Emirates airline website.

Important: some dog breeds are prohibited from import into the UAE. These include Pit Bull Terriers, certain fighting dogs, and American Staffordshire Terriers. Before transporting an animal, consult with the carrier to confirm if it will be allowed on board.

To secure a place for an animal in the cargo hold, you need to obtain a so-called import permit. Here are the steps you need to take:

• visit the website of the UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment;
• attach scanned documents: a copy of your passport, the animal's veterinary passport with all vaccinations, and a rabies antibody test result;
• fill out a detailed application form and pay the animal import fee;
• receive the import permit in electronic form.

All data must be filled in English. Be warned: the application form is very detailed, and many items are presented in Arabic. So if you are unsure if you can understand all the terms, it's better to contact intermediaries who assist with animal transportation to the UAE.

You can read more about how to fill out the application and import a pet into the Emirates here.

What else needs to be done before importing a pet into the Emirates

• Vaccinate your pet against rabies. The animal must be at least three months old.
• Detect the number of rabies virus antibodies in the animal's blood serum 30 days after vaccination. The analysis must only be performed in accredited laboratories.
• Treat your pet for parasites: internal and external.
• Microchip the animal. Note that chips must comply with ISO 11784 or ISO 11785 standards. Therefore, make sure your pet's chip is suitable.
• Check that you have vaccinated your pet against all common diseases: a veterinary clinic will provide the exact list. Cats are usually vaccinated against rhinotracheitis, panleukopenia, calicivirus. Dogs — against distemper, canine hepatitis, leptospirosis, and parvovirus.
• It is important that your animal is at least seven months old. Very young pets will not be allowed on the flight.

Coronavirus restrictions

All passengers traveling to the UAE are no longer required to present COVID-19 vaccination certificates or negative PCR test results.

Which bank cards work

In the Emirates, neither bank cards issued in Russia (Visa, Mastercard) nor MIR payment system cards are accepted. For payment, you need to use a UnionPay card or cards issued in Kazakhstan, Turkey, and other foreign countries. You can also pay with cash: there are many exchange offices in the UAE, especially in shopping malls. The most popular exchange office is Al Ansari Exchange.

Stopover in Dubai

Do you need a visa for Dubai? No. That's why Dubai has become a connecting hub between Russia and Europe for many Russians. Sometimes a layover can last half a day or even over twenty hours. Vera Alkhova, art consultant and co-founder of Art Spirit Multispace Dubai, wrote a complete guide on what to do in Dubai if you only have a few hours, one layover, and a strong desire to get to know the Emirates better.

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