Good news: for French citizens, the Dubai visa is free and issued on arrival for 90 days. Here are the details and the pitfalls to avoid.
Visa: no visa needed for French citizens
Since 2014, French nationals have been granted a free tourist visa on arrival at Dubai International Airport (DXB) or Al Maktoum (DWC).
- Length of stay: 90 days within a 180-day period
- Cost: €0
- Formalities: nothing to do before you leave, just go through the automated gate
Passport requirements
Your passport must:
- be valid for at least 6 months after your return date
- have at least 2 blank pages
- not contain an Israeli stamp (once a problem, no longer the case today)
Automated border gates are back
Dubai has rolled out smart gates everywhere since 2023: scan your passport, then your iris or fingerprint, and you're through in 30 seconds. No queues.
Vaccinations
No compulsory vaccinations. Recommended: routine vaccinations up to date (DTP, hepatitis A and B). There is no malaria in the Emirates.
What to declare at customs
- Alcohol: 4 litres max if you're 18+
- Cigarettes: 400 max
- Cash: declaration required above 60 000 AED (~€14 500)
- Medication: a prescription is required for codeine, sleeping pills and antidepressants (the list changes, so check the official UAE Ministry of Health website)
Strictly prohibited
- Drugs: zero tolerance, heavy penalties
- Pornography (including on your phone)
- Poppy seeds (including in seed mixes: people have genuinely been arrested over a few seeds at the bottom of a bag)
- Vapes/e-cigarettes: allowed but regulated
- Public insults, obscene gestures, photographing people without their consent = possible penalties
Travelling with minors
- Each child must have their own passport (the French family record book is not accepted)
- If the child is travelling with only one parent or with a third party: a signed authorisation to leave the country (AST) + a photocopy of the absent parent's ID
Driving in Dubai
- A French driving licence is fine for car hire for up to 90 days
- An international driving permit is not compulsory but recommended (some agencies require it)
- Driving is on the right; motorways are tolled (Salik, charged automatically to the hire car)
Adapting your behaviour
- Dress: shoulders and knees covered in public areas (shorts are fine in malls, but be respectful in the souks and at the mosque)
- Alcohol: only in licensed hotels and dedicated bars. Not in the street and not in supermarkets (except MMI/African&Eastern with a visitor licence)
- Public displays of affection: holding hands is fine; kissing in public can in theory lead to a fine. In practice it's tolerated unless it goes too far.
- Ramadan: don't eat or drink in public during the day. Restaurants open after sunset.
Book your activities in Dubai with complete peace of mind.
