DUBAI VISA FOR KENYA CITIZENS - COMPLETE GUIDE

A Dubai visa for Kenyans is still required for most travellers, and it is not free. What changed in June 2026 is that a specific group of Kenyan citizens — those holding a valid residence permit from a listed country — can now get a visa on arrival instead of applying in advance. Everyone else still needs a pre-approved e-visa before boarding.

This page explains who qualifies for visa on arrival, how much a Dubai visa from Kenya costs for everyone else, the documents you need, processing times, and the mistakes that get Kenyan applications refused.

Do Kenyans Need a Visa for Dubai? Is It Free?

Yes, Kenyans need a visa, and no, it is not free. Kenya is not on the UAE's visa-free list. If you hold an ordinary Kenyan passport and live in Kenya, you must have an approved e-visa before you fly. Airlines at JKIA and Moi International check it before issuing a boarding pass.

The UAE government does not issue visit visas directly to individuals. Your application is filed by a UAE-based sponsor — a resident relative, a hotel, an airline, or a GDRFA-registered travel agency such as Dubai E Visa Online. We file under our own establishment card, pay the government fee, and email you the approved visa.

New: UAE Visa on Arrival for Eligible Kenyan Citizens

Effective 25 June 2026, the UAE grants visa on arrival to holders of ordinary Kenyan passports — and their accompanying family members — who hold a valid residence permit issued by one of these countries:

• United States
• United Kingdom
• Any European Union member state
• Canada
• Australia
• New Zealand
• Japan
• Singapore
• South Korea

Eligible travellers can choose a 14-day visa on arrival, extendable once, or a 60-day visa on arrival, which is not extendable. The residence permit must be valid on the day you land, and the passport must have at least six months' validity. Family members travelling with you qualify only if they meet the same permit condition themselves.

Two things this policy does not do. It does not make Dubai visa-free for Kenyans, and it does not help Kenyans who live in Kenya. A Kenyan citizen in Nairobi with no foreign residence permit still needs a pre-approved e-visa. If you are unsure whether your permit qualifies, apply for an e-visa before travel rather than risk being refused at the airport. The visa-on-arrival fee is paid at immigration and is set by the UAE authorities, not by any agency.

How Much Is a Dubai Visa from Kenya?

For everyone who does not qualify for visa on arrival, the Dubai visa cost from Kenya depends on how long you want to stay and whether you need single or multiple entry. All prices are quoted in US dollars, per person. A 30-day single-entry tourist visa starts from $150.

These figures match our homepage and our Dubai visa fees page. If you want the cost in Kenyan shillings, your card issuer converts the USD amount at its own rate on the day of payment; we do not fix a KES price because the rate moves daily.

Extensions are priced separately: the 30 Day Inside A2A Visa Extension starts from $450, the 60 Day Inside A2A Visa Extension from $550, and the 90 Day Visa Extension from $750 per person. Multiple-entry 60-day visas and the 90-day leisure visa cannot be extended.

What the Price Includes

• GDRFA government fee — fixed by the authority and non-refundable once submitted.
• Sponsorship and service fee — our charge for filing, follow-up and support. The "starting from" price covers both.
• Travel insurance — where the visa type requires it. See travel insurance for a Dubai visa.

Not included: flights, hotels, and overstay fines. Since February 2026 the UAE charges AED 50 per day of overstay with no grace period. Details on our Dubai visa overstay rules page.

Be careful with Dubai visa agents in Kenya quoting far below these figures. Government fees cannot be discounted, and a suspiciously cheap visa is often never filed. Our guide on how to check if a Dubai visa is original or fake shows how to verify any document.

Dubai Visa Requirements for Kenyan Citizens

To be eligible for a Dubai visa for Kenyan citizens through a sponsor, you need:

• A Kenyan passport valid for at least six months from your planned entry date. The older passport series and the current East African e-passport are both accepted.
• No UAE immigration ban or unpaid overstay fines from a previous trip. Our page on the permanent immigration ban explains how to check.
• A confirmed return or onward ticket.
• Proof of accommodation — a hotel booking, or a host's details if staying with a UAE resident.
• Applicants under 18 travelling without both parents may need a no-objection letter from the absent parent.

A bank statement is not always required for Kenyan applicants, but for 60-day visas it is sometimes requested to show you can support yourself during the stay.

Documents Required for a Dubai Visa from Kenya

Upload clear colour scans or phone photos. Blurred or cropped documents are the most common reason an application is sent back.

1. Passport bio page — the full page with all four corners visible.
2. Passport-size photograph — white background, taken within the last six months, face fully visible.
3. Confirmed flight ticket — return or onward.
4. Accommodation proof — hotel booking, or your host's Emirates ID copy and tenancy contract.
5. Bank statement — last three months, only if requested for a 60-day visa.
6. Residence permit — only if you are applying from outside Kenya.

You never send your physical passport anywhere. The Dubai visa for Kenyans is fully electronic. The general list for all nationalities is on our documents required for a Dubai visa page.

Dubai Visa Types for Kenyan Passport Holders

30-Day Tourist Visa

The standard choice for holidays, shopping and short family visits. Single entry suits a straight return to Nairobi; multiple entry is useful for a side trip to Oman or a nearby country. Full rules on the 30-day Dubai visa page.

60-Day Visit Visa

Popular with Kenyans visiting relatives working in the UAE and with traders attending Gulfood, GITEX or the Dubai Shopping Festival. See how to apply for the 60-day Dubai visit visa.

Dubai Transit Visa for Kenyans

Flying Nairobi to Dubai and on to a third country? If you want to leave the airport during the layover, you need a 48-hour Dubai transit visa or the 96-hour version. A confirmed onward ticket is required.

Visas Not Covered on This Page

A Dubai work visa is sponsored by a UAE employer through the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation, not by a travel agency. If you have a job offer, start with how to get an employment visa in Dubai. Working on a visit visa is illegal.

How to Apply for a Dubai Visa from Kenya Online

The process is fully online and takes about ten minutes. You can apply from Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu or anywhere with an internet connection.

1. Choose your visa type and enter your travel dates on the application form.
2. Upload your documents — passport, photo, ticket and accommodation proof.
3. Receive a written quote in US dollars showing the government fee and service fee separately.
4. Pay online using an international Visa or Mastercard.
5. We submit to GDRFA under our establishment card and send you the application reference number.
6. Receive your e-visa by email. Print a copy and carry it with your passport.

Track progress at any time with our guide on how to check Dubai visa status online. Once approved, confirm whether your airline needs OK to Board. Kenya Airways, Emirates and flydubai commonly require it on flights from JKIA.

Dubai Visa Processing Time from Kenya

Standard processing for 30-day and 60-day visas is three to four working days after GDRFA receives a complete file. The 7-day, 14-day, 90-day and 48-hour options are typically decided in one to two days. Working days are Monday to Friday in the UAE, so a file submitted on Friday evening Kenyan time is effectively received on Monday.

Apply at least seven working days before departure. Approval and timing always rest with GDRFA, not with any agency.

Dubai Visa vs UAE Visa for Kenyans

A UAE visa for Kenyans and a Dubai visa for Kenyans are the same kind of document with a different issuing authority. A visa sponsored by a Dubai-based company is issued by GDRFA Dubai. One sponsored from Abu Dhabi, Sharjah or another emirate is issued by the federal Identity and Citizenship Authority (ICP). Both allow entry to all seven emirates, so a Dubai-issued visa is fine for a trip to Abu Dhabi or Sharjah.

If you are landing at Dubai International and staying in Dubai, a GDRFA-issued visa keeps status checks, extensions and corrections in one system.

Why Kenyan Dubai Visa Applications Get Rejected

Refusals for Kenyan applicants are uncommon when the file is complete. The issues we see most often:

• Passport validity under six months at the date of travel.
• Name mismatch between the passport and the application form.
• Previous overstay in the UAE with fines still unpaid.
• Poor-quality scans where the passport number or photo is unreadable.
• Wrong visa type — applying for a tourist visa when the real purpose is job hunting.

If refused, the government fee is not returned, but you can fix the issue and reapply. See common reasons for Dubai visa rejection and the Dubai visa refund policy.

Extending Your Stay

Single-entry 30-day visas can be extended by up to 30 days and 60-day single-entry visas by up to two weeks, subject to GDRFA approval. Extension pricing starts from $450 per person. Multiple-entry 60-day visas cannot be extended. Apply before your current visa expires — the steps are on our Dubai visit visa extension page.