UAE transit visa · Etihad via Abu Dhabi · Checked October 2026
Abu Dhabi Transit Visa
48 hours AED 55, 96 hours AED 216: who needs one and how to apply.
The UAE transit visa for Abu Dhabi costs AED 55 for 48 hours or AED 216 for 96 hours, sponsored by Etihad. Here is who needs it, what to upload, when the clock starts, and how to spend the hours once the stamp is in your passport, from USD 245 per car.
AED 899 · per car, about 6 hours, up to 7 guests
Grand Mosque, Corniche and Emirates Palace · inside your visa hours
Send your flights and visa lengthA plan that fits your stamp
Checked October 2026
Abu Dhabi Transit Visa in Six Answers
From Etihad’s visa page and the UAE government portal. Reconfirm for your passport before you fly.
48 hours for USD 15 (AED 55), or 96 hours for USD 59 (AED 216).
Etihad, for passengers flying Etihad through Abu Dhabi.
Around four business days. Apply well ahead.
Use it within 30 days of issue. It cannot be extended.
Starts at the immigration stamp, not at landing.
Many passports get visa-free entry or a visa on arrival.
Your passport
Who Needs an Abu Dhabi Transit Visa
The visa matters only if you want to leave the airport. Find your group, then confirm on u.ae or with Etihad.
| Passport | What you need to leave the airport |
|---|---|
| GCC citizens | No visa; passport or national ID |
| US, UK, EU, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Singapore and many more | Visa on arrival or visa-free entry, stamped at the counter |
| India | Visa on arrival if you hold a valid US visa or green card, or a UK or EU residence permit or visa; otherwise apply ahead |
| Pakistan, Bangladesh and other passports not on the arrival list | Apply before you fly, through Etihad |
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Rules change by nationality and date. The UAE government portal u.ae and Etihad’s visa page are the sources to check on the day.
The numbers
Abu Dhabi Transit Visa Fees and Validity
Etihad’s published table. Agencies charge extra on top.
| Visa | Stay allowed | Fee | Rules |
|---|---|---|---|
| 48-hour transit visa | Up to 48 hours from the stamp | USD 15 (AED 55) | Single entry, not extendable |
| 96-hour transit visa | Up to 96 hours from the stamp | USD 59 (AED 216) | Single entry, not extendable |
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Both must be used within 30 days of issue. The fee is not refunded if you do not travel.
How to apply
How to Apply for the Transit Visa Through Etihad
Five steps, all online.
- Book Etihad through Abu DhabiThe visa is sponsored by Etihad for its own passengers on a confirmed onward ticket.
- Open the visa requestThrough Etihad’s visa page or Manage Booking, choose 48 or 96 hours.
- Upload the documentsPassport scan, photo and the details listed below.
- Wait, then trackAllow around four business days; track after five.
- Carry the approvalShow it with your passport at Abu Dhabi immigration.
Documents
Documents for an Abu Dhabi Transit Visa
Most rejections come from this list, so check each one.
Machine-readable, valid at least 6 months on the day you travel.
A clear colour copy showing every detail on the page.
Colour, plain white background, face filling most of the frame, saved as JPEG.
Confirmed flights into Abu Dhabi and on to a third country.
A booking or host address if you stay longer than 24 hours.
Same visa type as the parent, with a birth certificate in English or Arabic.
Seeing Dubai
Can You Visit Dubai on an Abu Dhabi Transit Visa?
Yes, by road, inside your permitted hours.
Federal, so Dubai is included. The hours count wherever you spend them.
You must arrive at Zayed International on your Etihad flight.
About 90 minutes each way, so a Dubai day fits the 48-hour visa.
48 hours, planned
What a 48-Hour Transit Visa Can Look Like
A tested plan for an early landing and a late departure two days later.
Day 1, morningOut of Terminal AImmigration stamps the visa, your driver meets you, bags go to the hotel.
Day 1, middayGrand Mosque and Qasr Al WatanThe marble mosque, then the presidential palace halls.
Day 1, eveningThe dunesDune drive, camel ride, sunset and dinner at our Al Khatim camp.
Day 2Louvre Abu Dhabi or DubaiA museum morning, or a full Dubai day by road.
Day 2, eveningBack to departuresAt Terminal A 3 hours before take-off, well inside your 48 hours.
Visa sorted?
Private Tours for Your Transit Hours
Met at Terminal A or your hotel, priced per car for up to 7 guests, up to 30% off for a limited time.
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6 hours or moreAbu Dhabi Layover Tour
Grand Mosque, the Corniche and Emirates Palace, then departures 3 hours early.
- Terminal A pickup
- Bags stay in the car
Best experience: Land Cruiser USD 326 (AED 1,199) per car
About 12 hoursCity by Day, Dunes by Night
The capital in the morning, the desert at sunset, dinner at our camp.
- Private car all day
- Dinner included
Best experience: Land Cruiser USD 572 (AED 2,099) per car
About 10 hoursDubai in a Day
Burj Khalifa, Old Dubai and the Creek, with pickup in Abu Dhabi.
- Abu Dhabi pickup
- Up to 7 guests
Best experience: Land Cruiser USD 490 (AED 1,800) per car
Booking
Visa Approved? Plan the Hours
- Send your flightsLanding time, departure time and how many of you there are.
- Get a plan that fitsBuilt inside your 48 or 96 hours, with a buffer for immigration.
- Meet the driverAt Terminal A arrivals. Pay on the day.
+971 58 228 2683 · We do not process visas · No deposit
All options
What to Do With Your Transit Hours
Every plan starts at Terminal A or your hotel. Priced per car for up to 7 guests unless marked shared.
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- 4.9from 10,000+ reviews
- 95,000+guests since 2015
- LicensedDCT Abu Dhabi, DTCM Dubai
- No depositpay on the day
Local operator, Abu Dhabi
Visa Notes From an Operator That Meets Transit Guests Daily
We are a tour operator, not a visa agent. We meet guests the minute they clear immigration, so these are the visa questions we answer every week.
- Licensed in Abu DhabiA DCT-licensed operator. Our office is at Al Sila Tower, Al Maryah Island.
- Our own desert campBuilt and run by us at Al Khatim, 45 to 55 minutes from the city. See it on Google Maps
- Permit-holding driversDune-driving permits, 10+ years at the wheel, insured vehicles.
- Answered at any hourOur team replies on WhatsApp 24/7, from booking to boarding.
Six visa facts we check for every transit guest
- Etihad’s 48 hour transit visa is USD 15 (AED 55) and the 96 hour version USD 59 (AED 216).
- It is single entry and cannot be extended, so plan every outing inside the window.
- You need a confirmed onward ticket to a third country, not a return to where you started.
- Many passports need no transit visa at all and get entry on arrival; check yours before you pay.
- The visa covers the whole UAE, so a day in Dubai by road fits inside the same hours.
- The clock starts at the immigration stamp, not at landing, and counts every hour you spend in the country.
Reviewed by Bilal Ahmed, Founder and Managing Director of Royal Arabian Safari Tourism LLC, operating in Abu Dhabi since 2015. Written by our Abu Dhabi operations team. Facts checked against Etihad visa information and the UAE government portal.
Questions
Abu Dhabi Transit Visa Questions
How much does an Abu Dhabi transit visa cost?
Through Etihad, the 48-hour transit visa is about USD 15 (AED 55) and the 96-hour visa is about USD 59 (AED 216). Third-party channels add their own service charge.
Is the 48-hour Abu Dhabi transit visa free?
No. Older guides call it free, but Etihad’s own fees table charges AED 55 for the 48-hour visa.
Do I need a transit visa for a 7 or 8-hour layover in Abu Dhabi?
Only if you want to leave the airport and your passport does not get visa-free entry or a visa on arrival. Staying airside needs no UAE visa.
How long does the Abu Dhabi transit visa take?
Etihad quotes around four business days and suggests waiting five days before tracking the application. Apply well before you fly.
When do the 48 or 96 hours start?
When the immigration officer stamps your passport at Abu Dhabi airport, not when the plane lands.
Can I get an Abu Dhabi transit visa on arrival?
The transit visa itself is arranged before you fly. Many nationalities do not need it, because they receive a visa on arrival or visa-free entry at the counter.
Do Indian passport holders need a transit visa for Abu Dhabi?
An Indian passport holder with a valid US visa or green card, or a UK or EU residence permit or visa, has been eligible for a visa on arrival. Without one of these, apply in advance through Etihad. Reconfirm the current rule before travel.
Is the Abu Dhabi transit visa valid for Dubai?
Yes. It is a federal UAE visa, so you can drive to Dubai within your permitted hours. Entry must still be at Abu Dhabi airport on your Etihad flight.
What is the 3,000 dirham rule?
It is an informal proof-of-funds check, roughly AED 3,000 in cash or cards, that an officer may ask about. It is not a published transit visa fee or requirement.
Why are transit visa applications rejected?
Common reasons are a passport with under 6 months left, a photo that breaks the rules, names that do not match the ticket, or missing onward flight details.
What if my flight is cancelled after the visa is issued?
The visa is valid for entry within 30 days of issue. If your new date falls outside that window, you apply and pay again.
Do I need a visa if I only change planes in Abu Dhabi?
No. If you stay in the transfer area and your bags are checked through, no UAE visa is needed.
How do I check my Abu Dhabi transit visa status?
Use the track your visa option on the Etihad visa page, with the reference from your application. Etihad says visas take around four business days, so apply early and keep the approved visa as a PDF and on paper.
Does an approved transit visa guarantee entry to the UAE?
No. It lets you travel and present yourself at immigration, where the officer makes the final decision. Carry a passport valid for six months, your confirmed onward ticket to a third country and your hotel or tour details.
Do Pakistani passport holders need a transit visa for Abu Dhabi?
Yes, to leave the airport. Pakistani passports do not get a visa on arrival, so apply before you fly: Etihad passengers can request the 48 hour visa for USD 15 (AED 55) or the 96 hour visa for USD 59 (AED 216). Staying airside to connect needs no visa.
What documents do I need for the Abu Dhabi transit visa?
Etihad asks for a completed application, a colour photograph and a copy of a passport valid for at least six months at the time of travel. You also need a confirmed ticket into Abu Dhabi and onward to a third destination. Processing takes around four business days, so apply well before you fly.
Is the Abu Dhabi transit visa the same as a Dubai transit visa?
No. The Abu Dhabi transit visa is applied for through Etihad for journeys that connect at Zayed International Airport. Emirates offers its own 48 and 96 hour transit visas for Emirates tickets connecting through Dubai, with its own process. Apply through the airline you are actually flying with.
How long after approval can I use the Abu Dhabi transit visa?
Etihad lists the transit visa as valid for entry within 30 days of issue, single entry and not extendable. If your trip moves outside that window, you apply again, and the original fee is not refunded.
Should I apply through Etihad or a visa agent?
Etihad runs its own online application for the 48 and 96 hour transit visas, linked from the visa page on etihad.com, at AED 55 or AED 216. Agents and visa websites file the same application and add their own service fee, so they help only if you want someone to check your documents first.
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