Western Asia · UN member
United Arab Emirates: Travel Guide & Requirements
· الإمارات العربية المتحدة
The United Arab Emirates is a country in Western Asia with its capital in Abu Dhabi. It has a population of 11.5 million (#85 in the world) and covers 83,600 km². The official language is Arabic. The currency is the United Arab Emirates dirham (AED, د.إ).
Where is the United Arab Emirates? Map of the United Arab Emirates
Middle East, bordering the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf, between Oman and Saudi Arabia.
- Region
- Western Asia
- Coordinates
- 24° N, 54° E
- Neighbours
- 2 — see list
- Coastline
- 1,318 km
- United Arab Emirates
- Neighbours
- Capital
- Largest cities
Map of the United Arab Emirates showing Abu Dhabi (capital) and the largest cities: Dubai, Al Ain City, Reef Al Fujairah City, Zayed City, Umm Al Quwain City, Dibba Al-Fujairah and Ar Ruways.
Travel requirements
What you need to travel to the United Arab Emirates
- Passport
The UAE government portal says passports must be valid for at least 6 months from the date of entry into the UAE.
- Visa or eTA
Depends on your passport: of 198 passports, 33 need no visa, 111 need an eVisa, 54 get a visa on arrival. Check yours or see The United Arab Emirates entry requirements for every passport.
- Return or onward ticket
Dubai's tourism department lists a confirmed airline booking among the documents for a tourist visa, and the federal ICP lists a return travel ticket among its visa conditions.
- Proof of funds
No official source we could read sets a proof-of-funds requirement for visitors who receive a visa on arrival or a standard tourist visa.
- Travel insurance
ICP lists a valid health insurance policy within the UAE among the terms and conditions for issuing a visa, and GDRFA Dubai lists medical insurance valid in UAE among the terms for its single-entry tourist visa.
- Vaccinations
WHO lists the United Arab Emirates as requiring proof of vaccination against yellow fever for travellers aged 9 months or over arriving from countries determined by WHO to be at risk for yellow fever transmission, inclu…
- Customs allowance
Dubai Customs says all passengers arriving in the country are to declare cash amounts exceeding AED 60,000, or the equivalent in other currencies and traveller’s cheques, by filling in the declaration form.
- Travel advice
High risk — US and UK advice.
Entry rules: TravelRequirements.info — Entry Requirements Dataset (CC BY 4.0), each rule cited to an official government source. Always confirm with the airline and the official source before you travel.
Before you go
10 things to know before you travel to the United Arab Emirates
- Safety: Travel to the United Arab Emirates carries a high risk: the US State Department rates the United Arab Emirates Level 3 (“Reconsider Travel”), and the UK Foreign Office has no warnings against travel there.
- Best time to go: December to March — when daytime highs in Abu Dhabi are around 22–26°C.
- Money: the United Arab Emirates dirham (AED) — 1 US dollar is about 3.6725 AED.
- Plugs: type G, 230 V, 50 Hz — standard 220–240 V: devices from the US or Japan (110–120 V) need a converter unless they are dual voltage (100–240 V).
- Emergency numbers: Police 999, Ambulance 998, Fire 997.
- Language: Arabic is official; English is also spoken.
- Driving: on the right — speed limits are 100 km/h outside built-up areas and 120 km/h on motorways.
- Time zone: UTC+4 in Abu Dhabi.
- Capital: Abu Dhabi; the largest city is Dubai. About 11.5 million people live in the United Arab Emirates.
- Outdoors: 2 national parks.
Key facts
United Arab Emirates at a glance
Languages spoken: Arabic (official), English, Hindi, Malayalam, Urdu, Pashto, Tagalog, Persian
Geography & history
About the United Arab Emirates
The Trucial States of the Persian Gulf coast granted the UK control of their defense and foreign affairs in 19th-century treaties. In 1971, six of these states -- Abu Dhabi, 'Ajman, Al Fujayrah, Ash Shariqah, Dubayy, and Umm al Qaywayn -- merged to form the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Ra's al Khaymah joined in 1972. The UAE's per-capita GDP is on par with those of leading West European nations. For more than three decades, oil and global finance drove the UAE's economy. In 2008-09, the confluence of falling oil prices, collapsing real estate prices, and the international banking crisis hit the UAE especially hard. The UAE did not experience the "Arab Spring" unrest seen elsewhere in the Mid…
Read the full history
The Trucial States of the Persian Gulf coast granted the UK control of their defense and foreign affairs in 19th-century treaties. In 1971, six of these states -- Abu Dhabi, 'Ajman, Al Fujayrah, Ash Shariqah, Dubayy, and Umm al Qaywayn -- merged to form the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Ra's al Khaymah joined in 1972. The UAE's per-capita GDP is on par with those of leading West European nations. For more than three decades, oil and global finance drove the UAE's economy. In 2008-09, the confluence of falling oil prices, collapsing real estate prices, and the international banking crisis hit the UAE especially hard. The UAE did not experience the "Arab Spring" unrest seen elsewhere in the Middle East in 2010-11, partly because of the government's multi-year, $1.6-billion infrastructure investment plan for the poorer northern emirates, and its aggressive pursuit of advocates for political reform. The UAE in recent years has played a growing role in regional affairs. In addition to donating billions of dollars in economic aid to help stabilize Egypt, the UAE was one of the first countries to join the Defeat ISIS coalition, and to participate as a key partner in a Saudi-led military campaign in Yemen. In 2020, the UAE and Bahrain signed a peace agreement (the Abraham Accords) with Israel -- brokered by the US -- in Washington, D.C. The UAE and Bahrain thus became the third and fourth Middle Eastern countries, along with Egypt and Jordan, to recognize Israel.
Location
Middle East, bordering the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf, between Oman and Saudi Arabia
Climate
desert; cooler in eastern mountains
Terrain
flat, barren coastal plain merging into rolling sand dunes of vast desert; mountains in east
Highest point
Jabal Bil 'Ays 1,905 m
Natural resources
petroleum, natural gas
Natural hazards
frequent sand and dust storms
National symbols
golden falcon
Driving
Speed limits & road rules in the United Arab Emirates
The default speed limits in the United Arab Emirates are 100 km/h outside built-up areas and 120 km/h on motorways. The legal alcohol limit for drivers is 0.1‰. Posted signs always take priority over these defaults.
- 100100 km/hOutside built-up areasCountry roads
- 120120 km/hMotorwaysMotorways / freeways
- International Driving PermitRecognised: 1968 Vienna, 1949 GenevaCarry the IDP together with your national licence
- Driving sideDrive on the rightOvertake on the left
- Alcohol limit0.1‰ blood alcohol (0.01% BAC)
- Seat beltsRequired by law
- Child seatsRequired by law
- Motorcycle helmetsRequired for riders
- Road deaths (2021)5.9 per 100,000 peopleSafer than most countries (median 12.4)
Speed limits: OpenStreetMap wiki — Default speed limits (CC BY-SA 2.0). Road-safety laws: WHO Global Health Observatory. Compare speed limits and alcohol limits by country. Defaults for cars; local signs, weather and vehicle type can lower them.
Safety
Is the United Arab Emirates safe to visit?
Travel to the United Arab Emirates carries a high risk: the US State Department rates the United Arab Emirates Level 3 (“Reconsider Travel”), and the UK Foreign Office has no warnings against travel there.
US State Department
UK Foreign Office (FCDO)Latest update: Updated information about regional tensions, including information about recent strikes and retaliatory attacks by Iran ('Warnings insurance') page.
Updated 24 Jul 2026 · Full travel advice
Sources: US Department of State travel advisories (public domain) and UK FCDO foreign travel advice (contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0). Checked daily. Advice can change quickly — always read the official page before you travel.
Weather
Best time to visit the United Arab Emirates
The best time to visit the United Arab Emirates is December to March, when daytime highs in Abu Dhabi are around 22–26°C. April and November are also a good time to go. August is the warmest month (39°C by day), January the coldest (18°C at night).
- Jan22°C18°C
- Feb23°C18°C
- Mar26°C20°C
- Apr30°C23°C
- May35°C27°C
- Jun36°C29°C
- Jul38°C31°C
- Aug39°C32°C
- Sep37°C30°C
- Oct34°C28°C
- Nov29°C24°C
- Dec25°C20°C
Best time Good Less ideal
Before you go
Plugs, voltage & emergency numbers in the United Arab Emirates
Plugs & sockets
230 V, 50 Hz · Standard 220–240 V: devices from the US or Japan (110–120 V) need a converter unless they are dual voltage (100–240 V).
Emergency numbers
Save the local numbers before you travel — 112 or 911 may not connect here. All countries →
Sources: Wikipedia — Mains electricity by country and List of emergency telephone numbers (CC BY-SA 4.0).
National parks
2 national parks in the United Arab Emirates
- oldest from 1982
Largest: Sharjah National Park · Mangrove National Park
Currency · 26 October 2026
United Arab Emirates dirham exchange rates today
The United Arab Emirates uses the United Arab Emirates dirham (AED, د.إ). One US dollar buys 3.6725 AED; over the last 30 days the AED has gained 0.0% against the dollar.
What other currencies cost in AED
Currency converter
Daily reference rates from the open-source currency-api (CC0), 26 Oct 2026. Banks and exchange offices add a margin.
World rankings
Where the United Arab Emirates ranks
How the United Arab Emirates compares with the rest of the world — open any card for the full ranking.
Airports
Airports in the United Arab Emirates
297 airports and airfields — 8 large, 4 medium and 30 small, plus 253 heliports. 8 have scheduled passenger flights.
Borders
Neighbouring countries
The United Arab Emirates borders 2 countries along 1,066 km of land borders. Coastline: 1,318 km.
Military
Emirati armed forces
The United Arab Emirates ranks #56 of 145 in the Global Firepower military strength ranking.
People
Population & society
Religion
Largest cities: Dubai (3.0 million), Sharjah (1.8 million), Abu Dhabi (1.6 million)
Economy
Economy
Main industries
petroleum and petrochemicals; fishing, aluminum, cement, fertilizer, commercial ship repair, construction materials, handicrafts, textiles
Export partners
China 11%, India 11%, Japan 10%, Iraq 6%, Thailand 4% (2023)
Top exports
crude petroleum, refined petroleum, gold, broadcasting equipment, natural gas (2023)
Travel tools
Handy before every trip to the United Arab Emirates
Next public holiday
National Day — Wednesday, 2 December 2026. Then National Day (3 Dec).
Emirati passport
Ranked #2: 128 countries visa-free, 36 with visa on arrival, 6 with an eTA and 15 with an eVisa.
Emirati passport photo
Exact size, head position and background for the United Arab Emirates's passport and visa photos — make one free with AI checks.
Calling the United Arab Emirates
Dial +971 before the local number. Internet domain .ae.
Climate footprint
222.0 million tonnes of CO₂ in 2024 — 20.13 t per person.
Entry requirements
Visa rules for every passport visiting the United Arab Emirates: visa-free stays, eVisas, visas on arrival and documents to bring.
News
Latest travel news about the United Arab Emirates
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Frequently asked questions about the United Arab Emirates
What do I need to travel to the United Arab Emirates?
How long must my passport be valid for the United Arab Emirates?
Where is the United Arab Emirates?
What is the United Arab Emirates known for?
What is the capital of the United Arab Emirates?
What language is spoken in the United Arab Emirates?
What currency does the United Arab Emirates use?
What is the calling code of the United Arab Emirates?
Which countries border the United Arab Emirates?
How strong is the Emirati passport?
What is the speed limit in the United Arab Emirates?
Is the United Arab Emirates safe to visit?
When is the best time to visit the United Arab Emirates?
What plug type does the United Arab Emirates use?
How many airports does the United Arab Emirates have?
Sources: CIA World Factbook (public domain); World Bank Open Data (CC BY 4.0); names, languages and currencies: mledoze/countries (ODbL); flag: flag-icons (MIT); coat of arms: Wikimedia Commons (file page); exchange rates: Daily reference rates from the open-source currency-api (CC0); airports: OurAirports.