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Kenyans need a Dubai visa before they travel. Kenya is on the UAE's visa required list, so a Dubai tourism establishment applies for a GDRFA tourist visa (AED 210 for 30 days) or a relative living in the UAE sponsors a visit visa. Kenya was also added to ICP's visa for nationals residing abroad on , which helps Kenyans who live in the UK, the EU, the US, Canada, Australia and a few other countries.
Kenyans travelling from Kenya
The GDRFA tourist visa is the standard choice. You do not apply yourself: an accredited Dubai travel agency or hotel files it, often through a Kenyan agent who works with them.
What it costs in GDRFA fees, VAT included:
- AED 210: 30 days, single entry
- AED 315: 60 days, single entry, or 30 days multiple entry
- AED 525: 60 days, multiple entry
Source: GDRFA, checked . The conditions are a passport valid for at least 6 months, a return or onward ticket and health insurance valid in the UAE.
Ask your agent to show the GDRFA fee and their service charge as two lines. Published online prices for the 30-day visa are about AED 336 to AED 350, so a quote far above that deserves a question.
Kenyans living in the UK, Europe, North America or Asia-Pacific
ICP's residence-based visa is the bigger change for the Kenyan diaspora. ICP's service page accepts:
- a valid visa or residence permit from the United States, an EU member state or the United Kingdom, or
- a valid residence permit from Japan, South Korea, Australia, Canada, Singapore or New Zealand.
Two versions exist. The 14-day visa is AED 100 in ICP's announcement and can be extended once. The 60-day visa costs AED 250 plus AED 100 smart services, is single entry, cannot be extended and must be used within 30 days of issue; ICP states 2 days to issue. Your Kenyan passport needs 6 months of validity, and family members travelling with you qualify if they meet the same conditions.
Visiting family who live in the UAE
Your relative applies to ICP. The income rule, per month: AED 4,000 to sponsor a parent, child or spouse, AED 8,000 for a sibling or cousin, AED 15,000 for a friend. They lodge a refundable guarantee too. The visit can be 30, 60 or 90 days, extendable to 120 days in total. Full fee lines are on the Dubai visit visa page.
Looking for work in Dubai
A tourist or visit visa does not allow work. If finding a job is the plan, compare the job seeker visa UAE, which is issued without a sponsor. Be careful with offers of a "visit visa job" from recruiters: a real employer applies for a work permit and an entry permit for you.
Mistakes that cost Kenyan travellers
- Paying an agent who does not say which visa type is being filed.
- Using the ICP 60-day visa after the 30-day entry window.
- A UK or US visa that expires before the trip ends.
- Overstaying, which costs AED 50 a day: see overstay fine in Dubai.
Check the issued visa on the GDRFA tool, as explained on visa status check.
How the partner team helps
Tell us where the traveller lives and the dates. For someone flying from Kenya, the team files the GDRFA tourist visa; for a Kenyan in London or Toronto, they compare it with the ICP 60-day visa. They prepare the documents, submit through the right system and send the e-visa when issued. You agree one total price first, with the government fee and service charge shown separately. WhatsApp or the form on this page both work.
East Africa: Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia. Everything else: Dubai visa by nationality.
