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Country guide · United Arab Emirates

UAE travel apps and what you need before you go

Many passports, including US, UK, EU, Canadian and Australian, get a visit visa on arrival in the UAE, while others must arrange a visa in advance through ICP, GDRFA Dubai, an airline or a licensed hotel or agent; your passport needs at least six months of validity. Install Careem (rides and Dubai's Hala taxis), S'hail and nol Pay for Dubai's metro and buses, DARBI for Abu Dhabi transport, and Talabat or Deliveroo for food. WhatsApp messaging works, but its voice and video calls are restricted, so have a TDRA-approved app like Botim as a backup.

Checked against official sources on 22 October 202612 apps · 3 to set up at home
Sand dunes of the Liwa desert in the Empty Quarter, United Arab Emirates
Photo: Jc8136, CC BY-SA 3.0

Check the latest travel adviceRegional tensions in 2026 have led to periodic airspace closures and flight cancellations around the Gulf. Check your government's travel advice and your airline before you fly. Source: GOV.UK foreign travel advice: UAE

What you need to enter the United Arab Emirates

UAE entry rules depend on your passport and the lists change from time to time, so check the official u.ae visa checker or the UAE embassy in your country before you book.

Visa on arrival or pre-arranged visa

Many passports, including US, UK, EU, Canadian and Australian, can get a visit visa stamped on arrival, valid for 30 or 90 days depending on nationality. GCC citizens need no visa. Everyone else needs a tourist visa arranged before travel, either online through ICP or GDRFA Dubai, through Emirates, Etihad or flydubai when flying with them, or through a licensed hotel or travel agent. UAE embassies do not issue tourist visas.

Source: UAE Government Portal (u.ae): Do you need a visa · UAE Government Portal (u.ae): Tourist visa · Emirates: UAE visa information

Passport validity

Your passport must be valid for at least six months from the date you enter the UAE.

Source: UAE Government Portal (u.ae)

Indian passport holders

Indian citizens with an ordinary passport can get a visa on arrival for up to 14 days if they also hold a US visit visa or green card, or a UK or EU residence visa, valid for at least six months. Without one of these, arrange a visa before travel.

Source: UAE Government Portal (u.ae): Visa on arrival

Residents of the US, UK, EU and others from six countries

Since June 2026, ordinary passport holders from Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines, Kenya and South Africa who hold a valid residence permit from the US, an EU country, the UK, Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand or Canada can get a visa on arrival: 14 days (AED 100, extendable once) or 60 days (AED 250, not extendable).

Source: UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Before you fly: 7 steps

  1. Check the u.ae visa checker for your passport and arrange a visa in advance if you are not eligible for one on arrival.
  2. Make sure your passport has at least six months left from your arrival date.
  3. Check your government's travel advice and your airline's flight status.
  4. Install Careem and Uber and verify your accounts with your home number.
  5. Install S'hail and nol Pay for Dubai, or DARBI for Abu Dhabi.
  6. Install Botim and ask the people you call to install it too.
  7. Download offline maps of Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

The apps that matter in the United Arab Emirates

Grouped by the job they do. Set up at home means install it and sign in before you fly, while you still have your home number and Wi-Fi.

Taxis and ride hailing

Careem

Ride-hailing app that also books Hala, Dubai's official e-hail taxis, plus food delivery and Careem Bike hire.

Set up at home

Book a Hala taxi in the Careem app for a metered Dubai taxi without waving one down; Hala is Dubai only. Careem also runs Dubai's bike share with RTA, and you hire the bikes from the same app.

Official siteSource: Careem: Taxi (Hala) · Careem Help: Booking a Hala ride · RTA: Careem bike contract

Uber

Ride-hailing in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, including airport pickups.

Handy if you already use Uber at home, since your account and card carry over. Compare with Careem's Hala taxis on the same trip.

Official siteSource: Uber in Dubai · Uber in Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi Taxi

Official app for booking Abu Dhabi taxis in advance.

You can pay by cash or by debit or credit card. Uber and Careem also work in Abu Dhabi if you prefer one app for both cities.

Official siteSource: Abu Dhabi Residents Office: Transportation

Metro, buses and city transport

S'hail

RTA's journey planner for Dubai's metro, tram, buses and taxis, with live times.

Use it to plan metro and bus trips and to top up your nol card. RTA's separate 'RTA Dubai' app is mainly for drivers and vehicle services, so visitors can skip it.

Official siteSource: RTA: S'hail app · RTA: S'hail flyer

nol Pay

RTA's app for topping up and managing a nol card, which you need for Dubai's metro, tram and buses.

Cash is not accepted on Dubai public transport, so get a nol card (Silver for most visitors, or the nol Travel card) at a metro station and top it up in the app from AED 5.

Official siteSource: RTA: nol Pay app · RTA: Choose nol

DARBI

Abu Dhabi's Integrated Transport Centre trip planner for buses and other transport around the emirate.

Abu Dhabi buses use the Hafilat card (AED 10), not Dubai's nol card. Hafilat cards are topped up at ticket machines, including at Lulu Hypermarket branches.

Official siteSource: Abu Dhabi Residents Office: Transportation

Maps

Google Maps

Maps, walking directions and place search across the Emirates.

Set up at home

Download an offline map of Dubai and Abu Dhabi before you land in case your data plan is slow to start.

Official siteSource: Google Maps

Messaging and calls

WhatsApp

Messaging app used widely by hotels, tour operators and restaurants.

Limited for visitors

Text messages work, but WhatsApp voice and video calls are restricted in the UAE and depend on approval by the regulator, TDRA. Plan on messages only.

Official siteSource: Khaleej Times (May 2026)

Botim

Internet voice and video calling app on the TDRA-approved list.

Set up at home

Install it before you fly and get the people you will call to install it too, so you have a calling option that works in the UAE.

Official siteSource: Khaleej Times: VoIP apps allowed in the UAE

Food and delivery

Talabat

The biggest food and grocery delivery app in the UAE.

Delivery to hotels works well; add your room number and a phone number the rider can reach by call or text.

Official siteSource: Talabat UAE

Deliveroo

Restaurant and grocery delivery in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Al Ain, Ajman and Ras Al Khaimah.

Now owned by DoorDash. It closed in Qatar and Singapore in 2026, but the UAE was not on the closure list, so it still operates here.

Official siteSource: Arabian Business: Deliveroo 10 years in the UAE · Yahoo Finance: DoorDash to close Deliveroo in four markets (Feb 2026)

Deals and bookings

The ENTERTAINER

Buy-one-get-one-free offers on dining, attractions and leisure across the UAE.

Check which offers apply to your dates and outlets before buying a membership, since terms vary by venue.

Official siteSource: Virgin Mobile UAE: The Entertainer for tourists

Money: UAE dirham (AED)

The dirham is pegged to the US dollar at AED 3.6725 to US$1. Visa, Mastercard and American Express are accepted in most shops, hotels and restaurants, and ATMs take the main international networks. Public transport does not take cash, so load a nol card in Dubai or a Hafilat card in Abu Dhabi. Many restaurants add a service charge; if not, 10 to 15 percent is customary but optional.

Practical things to know

Plugs
Square three-pin sockets (Type G, as in the UK); 220 to 240 V, 50 Hz. Most hotels can lend an adapter.
Emergency numbers
Police 999, ambulance 998, fire (Civil Defence) 997. Abu Dhabi Tourism Police: +971 2 800 2626.
Mobile data
Etisalat (e&) sells a Visitor Line and du sells a Tourist Plan at airport shops. You need your passport and UAE visa or entry stamp to get a SIM.
Alcohol
Alcohol is sold in licensed venues, mainly hotel bars and restaurants, to people aged 21 and over, for personal use only.
Dress and Ramadan
Dress is fairly relaxed, but cover shoulders and knees in government buildings and mosques, and dress more conservatively during Ramadan.
Tipping
Not required. Check the bill for a service charge before adding a tip.

Questions travelers ask

Do I need a visa for the UAE?

It depends on your passport. Many passports, including US, UK, EU, Canadian and Australian, get a visit visa on arrival. Others must arrange a visa before travel through ICP, GDRFA Dubai, an airline or a licensed hotel or agent. Check u.ae before you book.

Can I make WhatsApp calls in Dubai?

WhatsApp messages work, but voice and video calls are restricted and depend on TDRA approval. Use an approved app such as Botim for calls.

How do I pay for the Dubai Metro?

With a nol card. Cash is not accepted on Dubai public transport. Buy a card at a station and top it up at machines or in the nol Pay or S'hail apps.

Is Deliveroo still in the UAE?

Yes. Deliveroo, now owned by DoorDash, left Qatar and Singapore in 2026, but still serves Dubai, Abu Dhabi and other emirates.

Does the nol card work in Abu Dhabi?

No. Abu Dhabi buses use the Hafilat card. Use the DARBI app to plan trips there.

Sources

Checked on 22 October 2026. Entry rules change, so confirm with the official links before you travel.

Found a mistake? Report a correction and we’ll check it against the source.

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