Kuala Lumpur and Langkawi are among the most popular holidays from Dubai and Abu Dhabi: about seven hours’ flight, good value and easy for families. For many UAE residents, Malaysia needs no visa at all. For others, it needs a quick online eVISA. Malaysia does not give UAE residents any special route — your passport decides. And almost everyone must complete the free Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC) before landing.
Checked on 16 October 2026 against the Immigration Department of Malaysia. Sources at the end.
On this page
- The short answer by passport
- Your passport decides — your residence only changes the paperwork
- The MDAC arrival card — almost everyone
- How to apply for the Malaysia eVISA
- At the airport
- Mistakes to avoid
- Questions people ask
The short answer by passport
| Passport | Entry to Malaysia | Visa fee |
|---|---|---|
| UAE | Visa-free | — |
| India | Visa-free under a temporary exemption until 31 December 2026 | — (eVISA RM 50 if the exemption ends) |
| Philippines | Visa-free | — |
| Egypt | Visa-free | — |
| Pakistan | eVISA required | RM 20 |
| Bangladesh | eVISA required | RM 20 |
| Sri Lanka | eVISA required | RM 15 |
| Nigeria | eVISA required | about RM 20 |
All eVISAs also carry a government processing charge (published as RM 105) and a small card payment fee.
Your passport decides — your residence only changes the paperwork
Malaysia has no UAE-resident route. A Pakistani resident of Dubai needs the same eVISA as a Pakistani applying from Lahore. What your UAE residence changes:
- You can apply for the eVISA from the UAE, online, with your UAE residence visa uploaded as part of the file.
- Your UAE bank statements and employment are used to show you can pay for the trip and will return.
Indian passport holders: the date to watch
Malaysia has let Indian citizens enter visa-free for tourism as a temporary measure, currently until 31 December 2026. If it is not extended, Indians will need an eVISA from 1 January 2027. If your trip is in early 2027, check before you book.
The MDAC arrival card — almost everyone
The Malaysia Digital Arrival Card is required from nearly all foreign visitors, including visa-free travellers.
- Submit online on the Immigration Department’s MDAC page.
- Submit within three days before arrival.
- It is free. Sites charging a fee are not official.
- MDAC is not a visa and does not replace one.
How to apply for the Malaysia eVISA
- Go to malaysiavisa.imi.gov.my, the official portal.
- Create an account and choose tourism eVISA (single or multiple entry, depending on your nationality).
- Upload documents (see below).
- Pay the visa fee and processing charge by card.
- Wait for the decision — the Immigration Department publishes processing “from 2 working days”.
- Download and print the eVISA.
- Submit your MDAC within 3 days before arrival.
Documents
- Passport valid at least 6 months beyond your entry date.
- Recent passport-style photo.
- Confirmed return ticket.
- Hotel booking or host’s address.
- UAE residence visa (and Emirates ID).
- Recent bank statement (often requested). See our bank statement guide.
- For children: birth certificate.
Stay and validity
The eVISA is generally valid for 6 months from issue. Multiple-entry eVISAs allow up to 30 days per entry. Visa-free stays depend on your nationality — check before you plan a long trip.
At the airport
At Kuala Lumpur International Airport, eligible travellers may use the autogates after MDAC submission; others queue for officers. Carry printed copies of your return ticket and hotel booking. Officers can ask for proof of funds.
Mistakes to avoid
- Paying a third-party website for the MDAC or eVISA.
- Booking an Indian-passport trip for January 2027 without checking whether the exemption was extended.
- Entering passport details differently from your passport on the eVISA.
- Forgetting the MDAC for children — every traveller needs one.
Questions people ask
Do Indian residents of the UAE need a visa for Malaysia?
Not until 31 December 2026, under Malaysia’s temporary visa exemption for Indian citizens. They must still submit the MDAC.
Do Pakistani residents of the UAE need a visa for Malaysia?
Yes, an eVISA. The visa fee is published as RM 20, plus a processing charge.
How long does the Malaysia eVISA take?
The Immigration Department publishes “from 2 working days”. Apply at least a week before travel.
Is MDAC mandatory?
Yes, for almost all foreign visitors, submitted within three days before arrival. It is free.
Do Filipino residents of the UAE need a visa for Malaysia?
No. Philippine passport holders are visa-free for short visits.
Related guides
- Thailand visa for UAE residents
- Singapore visa for UAE residents
- Indonesia and Bali visa for UAE residents
- UAE bank statement for visa applications
Sources
- Immigration Department of Malaysia — official eVISA portal: malaysiavisa.imi.gov.my
- Immigration Department of Malaysia — Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC): imigresen-online.imi.gov.my
- Immigration Department of Malaysia: imi.gov.my
- Visa Doctor UAE — Malaysia visa from Dubai, updated 23 September 2026
Written by Asad Waleed M, Dubai. Asad has lived in the UAE for nine years and researches visa rules from government sources. He is not an immigration lawyer or consultant, and Sifqa does not process applications. Read the editorial policy.
Last checked 16 October 2026. Rechecked quarterly and before 31 December 2026, when the Indian visa exemption is due to end. Found an error? Email [email protected] — it gets fixed and logged.