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Most trip problems start before we even reach the airport. A passport that expires too soon. A visa nobody sorted out. A hotel address you can’t find on your phone at midnight. This UAE travel checklist before flying covers what to sort out first.
Entry rules depend on your nationality and passport. Some travellers get a visa on arrival, others need one before they fly. If you need a visa, the UAE eVisa information page is a good place to start, so read it before you book anything non-refundable.
Passport and Entry Rules
A passport valid for at least six months from your arrival date is the standard requirement, so look at your expiry date today. Then confirm what your nationality needs. Rules change, so we can’t rely on a friend’s trip from last year.
When you fill in a form, copy your name, date of birth and passport number straight from the passport. One wrong digit means delays.
Documents to Keep on Your Phone and in Your Bag
Save a digital copy of each of these, and carry paper copies of the important ones:
- Passport and visa
- Flight confirmation
- Hotel booking
- Travel insurance
- Phone number and address of your accommodation
Digital copies help if something gets lost. They won’t replace the originals at the airline desk or the border.
Flights, Transfers and Your First Night
Look at your departure time, terminal and baggage allowance a few days out. If you have a layover, confirm the transfer time and whether your route needs a transit visa.
Dubai and Abu Dhabi are roughly an hour and a half apart by road, so where we stay changes how we get around. Save your hotel’s address on your phone before you land. Taxi drivers and ride apps both need it.
Weather, Clothes and Money
Summer heat is serious. July and August temperatures often pass 40°C, so pack light clothes, sunscreen, sunglasses and comfortable shoes. Malls, taxis and metro trains are heavily air-conditioned, so bring a thin layer too.
Mosques have strict dress rules. Read the visitor guidelines first, and plan to cover your shoulders and knees.
The currency is the UAE dirham (AED). Cards are widely accepted, but keep a little cash for small shops and taxis.
The Last Week Before You Fly
Some prescription medicines are restricted in the UAE. If you take any, carry them in the original packaging with a doctor’s letter, and read the rules for your specific medicine before you fly.
A few days before departure, go through your documents once more. Read your airline’s latest baggage rules and make sure your hotel dates match your flights.
That’s the whole UAE travel checklist before flying. Passport, visa, bookings, clothes. Sort those and we can relax and enjoy the rest of the trip.
