You came for two weeks, and a month later you are still here. It happens a lot in Dubai, and a tourist visa can be extended without leaving the country, as long as you apply before it expires.
Who to apply to
It depends on which emirate issued the visa. For Dubai, it is the GDRFA: online at smart.gdrfad.gov.ae, in the GDRFA Dubai app, or at an Amer centre. For Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and the other emirates, it is the ICP, through smartservices.icp.gov.ae, the UAEICP app or a typing centre.
If your visa was issued through an airline or a travel agency, they often have to file the request. Call them first.
How long you can stay
The limit is 120 days in total on a tourist visa, extensions included. Family visit, job-seeker, medical and study visas can go up to 180 days depending on the category.
What it costs
At the GDRFA, budget AED 600 plus 5% VAT, plus the fee for applying from inside the country. At the ICP, it is AED 100 for the application and AED 500 for the extension. Amer centres and typing centres add their own commission on top.
The answer usually comes within 48 hours from the GDRFA and within two working days from the ICP. Do not apply the day before your visa runs out: a week ahead is sensible.
If you overstay
Each extra day costs AED 50. The overstay also stays on your record and can complicate a visa application later.
If the plan is to stay for good, you need a residence visa. That is a different process, and the UAE Golden Visa is one of the routes.
Rules and fees checked in November 2026. Sources: Wego, Gulf News, GDRFA, ICP.
Filed under
