Please refer to the information below regarding travel formalities for each destination (identity documents, vaccinations, visa, travel advice). For further information, please consult the following websites:
https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/united-arab-emirates (Government of Canada travel advice – United Arab Emirates)
https://travel.gc.ca/travelling/registration (Registration of Canadians Abroad)
https://u.ae (official UAE government portal)
Embassy of the United Arab Emirates in Ottawa:
125 Boteler Street, Ottawa, ON K1N 0A4. Tel: +1 613 565 7272
Embassy of Canada to the United Arab Emirates:
Abu Dhabi Trade Towers (Abu Dhabi Mall), West Tower, 9th floor, Abu Dhabi. Tel: +971 2 694 0300
Consulate General of Canada in Dubai: Jumeirah Emirates Towers, 19th floor, Dubai. Tel: +971 4 404 8444. 24/7 emergencies: Emergency Watch and Response Centre in Ottawa, +1 613 996 8885
Vaccinations
No vaccination is mandatory for travellers arriving from Canada. Yellow fever vaccination is mandatory for travellers arriving from endemic areas. Routine vaccinations, including measles, should be up to date.
Visa
For hotel stays:
Canadian citizens do not need to arrange a visa in advance. A free visit visa is stamped in the passport on arrival at Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah airports, allowing a stay of up to 90 days within any 180-day period. The UAE authorities may refuse entry without giving reasons.
Medicines containing controlled substances (for example codeine) require prior import authorization from the UAE Ministry of Health, and must be carried in their original packaging with the prescription.
A tourism fee per room and per night is paid directly at the hotel ("Tourism Dirham" in Dubai, AED 7 to 20 depending on the category; similar fees in the other emirates).
Holders of diplomatic, special or official passports are also visa-exempt for 90 days within any 180-day period.
For organized tours:
The same conditions apply: no visa needs to be arranged in advance for Canadian citizens. The tourism fee is included or paid locally depending on the hotels of the tour.
Identity
Canadian citizens travelling individually or in a group must hold a passport in good condition, valid for at least six months on the date of entry into the UAE, otherwise entry will be refused.
Emergency or temporary passports are not recognised in the UAE. Passports without a full date of birth (day/month/year) are not recognised, and entry may be refused if the passport shows an "X" instead of the name, first name or date of birth.