Dubai is the second largest emirate in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), with a population of about 3.8 million people, as reported by Statista. Interestingly, more than 80% of the Dubai population comprises of expatriates, according to data from the World Bank. Furthermore, this emirate has a well-established economy, with an employment rate of more than 95%, making it among the world’s most popular destinations. Tourism is also a booming industry, and millions of foreigners head to Dubai every year for reasons such as job-seeking, medical care, studies, and leisure. TAs a foreigner, you need one of the following Dubai visas to travel to Dubai.
Student Visa
Dubai has some of the best universities in the Middle East, making it a massive educational hub. For this reason, tens of thousands of international students travel to Dubai every year to study. To give you an idea, in 2016 alone, there were about 77,500 international students in the UAE, as reported by the UNESCO Institute of Statistics. International students that intend to study in Dubai require a student visa. The requirements to apply for a student visa include, among others:
• An admission letter to one of the Dubai learning institutions
• Passport and copies of it
• Photographs
• A copy of the tuition fee receipt
• A copy of the visa fee receipt
It is worth noting that a student residence visa is valid for one year, but you can renew your student residence visa to extend your stay in Dubai.
Tourist Visa
Dubai is among the world’s leading tourist destinations, thanks to its major attractions such as indoor aquaria, extensive flower gardens, and sightseeing attractions. To give you an idea, tourists in Dubai spent about $28 billion in 2016 alone, as per Statista. That said, you will need a tourist visa to experience the taste of Dubai. You can apply for a 30-day tourist visa or a 90-day tourist visa, depending on the period you intend to stay in Dubai.
Medical Visa
The World Bank ranks Dubai as the second largest medical tourism destination in the Middle East. As a patient seeking treatment from Dubai, you will require a medical visa, and this also applies to your companions. More specifically, you must also be sponsored by a medical facility to be eligible for the medical visa, which is usually valid for 90 days, after which you may apply for an extension. In general, the requirements to apply for a medical visa include, among others:
• A copy of your passport
• Medical insurance cover
• Passport-size photos
Conclusion
As a foreigner, you may need a visa to travel to Dubai. Common Dubai visas include medical visa, student visa, and tourist visa.