UAE visa for GCC residents
UAE Visa for GCC Residents: Saudi, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain
GCC citizens enter the UAE with their ID card. Expats who live in Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait or Bahrain usually need a UAE eVisa issued before travel, and eligibility depends on the profession on the residence permit and how long it has left.
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At a glance
UAE visa for GCC residents at a glance
Checked 7 November 2026
- Our service fee
- On request
- Residents who do not qualify
- Normal UAE tourist visa, applied for the same way as other visitors
01
GCC citizens and GCC residents: not the same rules
A Saudi, Omani, Qatari, Kuwaiti or Bahraini citizen does not need a UAE visa. Their foreign domestic workers and drivers follow different rules.
An expat who lives in the GCC is treated by their passport, not by where they live, unless they qualify for the GCC resident eVisa. If not, they apply for a normal UAE tourist visa.
A GCC citizen
- Route to the UAE
- ID card or passport at the border
- Apply before travel?
- No
A GCC resident with a listed profession
- Route to the UAE
- Ask us
- Apply before travel?
- Ask us
A family member of that resident
- Route to the UAE
- Ask us
- Apply before travel?
- Ask us
A GCC resident with an unlisted profession
- Route to the UAE
- Normal UAE tourist visa
- Apply before travel?
- Yes
A GCC resident whose passport gets visa on arrival anyway
- Route to the UAE
- Ask us
- Apply before travel?
- No
Which UAE entry route applies to whom. We confirm yours before you pay.
| You are | Route to the UAE | Apply before travel? |
|---|---|---|
| A GCC citizen | ID card or passport at the border | No |
| A GCC resident with a listed profession | Ask us | Ask us |
| A family member of that resident | Ask us | Ask us |
| A GCC resident with an unlisted profession | Normal UAE tourist visa | Yes |
| A GCC resident whose passport gets visa on arrival anyway | Ask us | No |
02
Who can apply online before travel
The GCC resident eVisa is applied for online, through the ICP system for Abu Dhabi and the northern emirates or GDRFA Dubai for Dubai, before the trip. We apply for you from Abu Dhabi, so you can start on WhatsApp from Riyadh, Dammam, Muscat, Doha, Kuwait City or Manama.
- 01
Send your papers
Passport, GCC residence permit or ID card, and a photo, on WhatsApp.
- 02
We apply
If you qualify, we apply for the GCC resident eVisa. If not, we tell you and quote a tourist visa instead.
- 03
You travel
We send the eVisa as a PDF. Print it for the airline or the land border.
Families travel together often. Send everyone's papers at once so the visas carry the same dates.
03
Professions and residence rules that apply
Eligibility depends on the job title printed on your GCC residence permit or ID, not on what you do at work.
Residence permit validity
- Rule
- Ask us
- Why it matters
- A permit close to renewal is the most common reason we must say no
Passport validity
- Rule
- Ask us
- Why it matters
- Counted from the date you enter the UAE
Profession on the permit
- Rule
- Ask us
- Why it matters
- The printed title is what the system reads
Earlier UAE record
- Rule
- Ask us
- Why it matters
- An old UAE overstay can block the eVisa
Residence and passport conditions, last checked 7 November 2026.
| Condition | Rule | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Residence permit validity | Ask us | A permit close to renewal is the most common reason we must say no |
| Passport validity | Ask us | Counted from the date you enter the UAE |
| Profession on the permit | Ask us | The printed title is what the system reads |
| Earlier UAE record | Ask us | An old UAE overstay can block the eVisa |
04
Documents for Saudi, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain residents
Every GCC resident sends the same core set. The local residence document has a different name in each country, and we need the version that shows your profession and expiry date.
Checklist
- A recent photo on a white background
- Residence document showing profession and expiry, both sides
- Hotel booking or the address of your host in the UAE, if asked for
Saudi Arabia
- Residence document
- Iqama (resident identity)
- Good to know
- Ask us
Oman
- Residence document
- Resident card
- Good to know
- Many residents drive in through Hatta or Al Ain
Qatar
- Residence document
- Qatar ID (QID)
- Good to know
- Most travel by air to Abu Dhabi or Dubai
Kuwait
- Residence document
- Civil ID
- Good to know
- Ask us
Bahrain
- Residence document
- CPR card
- Good to know
- Most travel by air
Residence document by country. Send a clear copy of both sides.
| Country of residence | Residence document | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Saudi Arabia | Iqama (resident identity) | Ask us |
| Oman | Resident card | Many residents drive in through Hatta or Al Ain |
| Qatar | Qatar ID (QID) | Most travel by air to Abu Dhabi or Dubai |
| Kuwait | Civil ID | Ask us |
| Bahrain | CPR card | Most travel by air |
05
Fees and processing time
GCC resident eVisa
- Government fee
- Ask us
- Our service fee
- On request
- Typical processing
- Ask us
Extension of the GCC resident eVisa
- Government fee
- Ask us
- Our service fee
- On request
- Typical processing
- Ask us
30 day tourist visa, if you do not qualify
- Government fee
- Ask us
- Our service fee
- On request
- Typical processing
- Ask us
60 day tourist visa, if you do not qualify
- Government fee
- Ask us
- Our service fee
- On request
- Typical processing
- Ask us
UAE visa fees for GCC residents, last checked 7 November 2026. All amounts in AED.
| Visa | Government fee | Our service fee | Typical processing |
|---|---|---|---|
| GCC resident eVisa | Ask us | On request | Ask us |
| Extension of the GCC resident eVisa | Ask us | On request | Ask us |
| 30 day tourist visa, if you do not qualify | Ask us | On request | Ask us |
| 60 day tourist visa, if you do not qualify | Ask us | On request | Ask us |
Apply at least a week before the trip, longer before UAE National Day, Eid and the New Year, when GCC residents fill the roads and flights into Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
Planning the trip the other way? UAE residents can read about the Oman visa for UAE residents and the Saudi visa for UAE residents. For the full list of UAE visit visas, see our UAE tourist visa from Abu Dhabi page.
06
Driving in from Oman or Saudi Arabia
Many residents of Oman and the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia drive. Carry the printed eVisa with your passport and residence card.
Muscat and Sohar, Oman
- Crossing
- Hatta (Al Wajajah on the Omani side)
- Leads to
- Dubai
- Check before you go
- Ask us
Buraimi, Oman
- Crossing
- Al Ain crossings, such as Mezyad or Khatm Al Shikla
- Leads to
- Al Ain and Abu Dhabi
- Check before you go
- Ask us
Batinah coast, Oman
- Crossing
- Khatmat Malaha
- Leads to
- Kalba, Fujairah and Sharjah
- Check before you go
- Ask us
Musandam, Oman
- Crossing
- Dibba or Al Darah
- Leads to
- Fujairah or Ras Al Khaimah
- Check before you go
- Ask us
Saudi Arabia
- Crossing
- Ghuwaifat (Al Batha on the Saudi side)
- Leads to
- Abu Dhabi, via Al Ruwais
- Check before you go
- Ask us
Common land crossings into the UAE. Opening hours and which crossings accept expats change; we check on the day you plan.
| From | Crossing | Leads to | Check before you go |
|---|---|---|---|
| Muscat and Sohar, Oman | Hatta (Al Wajajah on the Omani side) | Dubai | Ask us |
| Buraimi, Oman | Al Ain crossings, such as Mezyad or Khatm Al Shikla | Al Ain and Abu Dhabi | Ask us |
| Batinah coast, Oman | Khatmat Malaha | Kalba, Fujairah and Sharjah | Ask us |
| Musandam, Oman | Dibba or Al Darah | Fujairah or Ras Al Khaimah | Ask us |
| Saudi Arabia | Ghuwaifat (Al Batha on the Saudi side) | Abu Dhabi, via Al Ruwais | Ask us |
Checklist
- Vehicle registration card in your name
Questions
UAE visa for GCC residents FAQs
Send your passport and residence permit on WhatsApp with the country you live in, and we reply with whether you qualify for the GCC resident eVisa and a written quote. You can also contact Happy Journey at Mushrif Mall or BurJuman.
Do GCC residents need a visa for the UAE?
GCC citizens do not need one. We check your residence permit and apply for you.
Can I drive into the UAE from Oman with a GCC residence visa?
We tell you which crossing points accept your visa type and what to carry.
My Iqama says labourer but I work as a supervisor. Can I get the eVisa?
You can still apply for a normal UAE tourist visa, which we arrange in the same way.
My residence permit expires in two months. Can I still apply?
If it is too short, renew first or apply for a tourist visa by passport. Send us the expiry date and we check.
It's your smart choice
Let's plan your trip together
Send your dates and travellers on WhatsApp, or walk in at Mushrif Mall, Abu Dhabi or BurJuman, Dubai. We reply with options and today's prices.
Enquiry
Send us your enquiry
Tell us where, when and who is travelling. A consultant replies by phone, WhatsApp or email.
- Abu DhabiOffice 329A, 3rd Floor, Mushrif Mall
- DubaiShop 1041, BurJuman
- Call us02 679 8008