The UAE Is Now Giving Visas-on-Arrival to Eligible Filipino Passport Holders
Check if you make the cut.
Published on Jun 25, 2026
(SPOT.ph) More good visa news coming your way: Starting June 25, 2026, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will officially grant visas on arrival to eligible Philippine passport holders.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) announced the update on Wednesday, June 24, citing the “excellent bilateral relations” between the two countries. If visiting Dubai’s Burj Khalifa, Abu Dhabi’s beautiful art and architecture scene, and the UAE's sweeping desert dunes are on your bucket list, then ticking them off might have just gotten a lot easier.
Who qualifies for UAE visa-on-arrival?
Before you hop on a plane to the UAE, check whether you qualify for this particular travel perk. Filipinos can skip the usual pre-departure tourist visa application with a valid Philippine passport and a valid visa, residence permit, or Green Card from any of these countries:
United States
European Union member states
Australia
Singapore
Canada
New Zealand
Upon landing in the UAE, there are two main visa options for entry:
14 Days: Priced at AED 100 (approximately P1,670). This can be extended once for another 14 days for AED 250 (around P4,175).
60 Days: Priced at AED 250 (approximately P4,175). This option is strictly non-extendable.
What to do in the UAE
If you’re looking for your next international escape, the UAE makes a compelling case with its futuristic architecture, best-in-class attractions, and rich cultural experiences. Many travelers start by enjoying the glittering skyline of Dubai. Here, you can literally reach for the sky and scale the observation deck of the world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa. From there, you can spend hours getting lost in the massive Dubai Mall or head straight to the luxury man-made island of Palm Jumeirah for a firsthand glimpse of the good life.
Just an hour and a half away lies Abu Dhabi, which is home to stunning architectural gems. Travelers shouldn’t miss the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, a magnificent white marble monument that’s surreal in person. Art lovers can wander through the Louvre Abu Dhabi, then explore the geometric design of Qasr Al Watan, the nation’s Presidential Palace.
Treat yourself to a different type of safari adventure in the UAE! A desert safari tour from either Dubai or Abu Dhabi is perfect for a day outside the concrete cities. It takes you right onto the golden dunes for camel rides, sunset views, and thrilling 4x4 drives.
And that’s just the beginning of your desert adventure. Beyond Dubai and Abu Dhabi, the UAE is made up of seven emirates, each offering its own distinct culture, landscapes, and experiences. With this new visa-on-arrival scheme, visiting other emirates like Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah, and Fujairah is also possible, giving travel bugs like you (and us) access to a whole new world of adventure on that side of the globe.
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Celia Nachura writes to pay for plane tickets, tennis classes, and a pile of books she’ll never have the time to read. She is also the emotional support human to two dogs, Daisy and Nacho.