Indian passport holders living in the UAE can visit Thailand, Malaysia, Mauritius and Kazakhstan without a visa, subject to entry conditions. A qualifying UAE residence permit also opens visa-free routes to Georgia and Armenia. Other destinations require an arrival visa, electronic visa or advance travel authorisation.
- On the passport alone: Thailand, Malaysia, Mauritius, the Maldives, Nepal, Bhutan and Kazakhstan are visa-free or free on arrival. Sri Lanka gives a free ETA, and Indonesia a visa on arrival.
- With qualifying UAE residence: Georgia and Armenia offer visa exemptions; Azerbaijan, Morocco and the other GCC states offer conditional arrival or online visa routes. Albania also exempts holders of a 10-year UAE residence permit with at least one year remaining.
- With a valid US, UK or Schengen visa: add Serbia, Montenegro, Albania, Mexico, Türkiye and Uzbekistan.
Checked on 30 October 2026 against government and embassy sources. Visa-free schemes for Indians often have end dates, so check again before you book. Sources are at the end.
Passport, residence or another visa
Your passport decides. Your residence changes the route. For an Indian in Dubai or Abu Dhabi, an easy trip comes from one of three places:
- Your Indian passport alone. Thailand, Malaysia, Mauritius and Kazakhstan let you in whatever your residence.
- Your UAE residence permit. Its type, remaining validity and any nationality or profession conditions determine whether you qualify for a residence-based route.
- A valid US, UK or Schengen visa. Serbia, Montenegro, Albania, Mexico, Türkiye and Uzbekistan accept it in place of their own visa, or as the condition for an e-visa.
Easy countries for Indians in the UAE: quick list
| Destination | What an Indian living in the UAE gets | Route | Stay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thailand | Visa-free; fill in the TDAC arrival card online | Passport | 30 days (since 15 September 2026) |
| Malaysia | Visa-free until 31 December 2026; MDAC within 3 days before arrival (official conditions) | Passport | 30 days |
| Mauritius | Visa-free (immigration rules) | Passport | Period granted by immigration on arrival |
| Maldives | Free visa on arrival; prepaid booking, return ticket, sufficient funds and IMUGA declaration required | Passport | Up to 30 days |
| Nepal | No visa needed; carry your valid passport when flying from the UAE (entry identification rules) | Passport | Visa-exempt; follow entry conditions |
| Bhutan | No visa; an entry permit and the daily Sustainable Development Fee apply | Passport | Per permit |
| Kazakhstan | Visa-free | Passport | 14 days per visit, 42 in 180 |
| Hong Kong | Visa-free after free online Pre-arrival Registration (PAR) | Passport | 14 days |
| Philippines | Visa-free with required passport validity, return/onward ticket and supporting documents; see Indian-national rules | Passport / other visa | 14 days, or 30 with a qualifying visa/residence permit; not extendible |
| Sri Lanka | Free tourist ETA, applied for online | Passport | 30 days |
| Indonesia (Bali) | e-VOA, IDR 500,000, plus the IDR 150,000 Bali levy | Passport | 30 days |
| Vietnam | e-visa, US$25 single entry | Passport | Up to 90 days |
| Seychelles | No visa; online Travel Authorisation, then a free Visitor’s Permit | Passport | Per permit |
| Kenya | Online eTA before travel; standard fee US$30 before any additional charges | Passport | Stay decided at entry; eTA travel validity is not the permitted stay |
| Russia | Unified e-visa, approximately US$52; approved entry points only | Passport | Up to 30 days |
| Egypt | Tourist e-visa, US$30 single entry; India is on the eligible list | Passport | As authorised on the visa |
| Georgia | Visa-free with a UAE residence valid on entry and exit | Residence | 90 days in 180 |
| Armenia | Visa-free with a UAE residence valid 6+ months | Residence | Up to 180 days within a one-year period |
| Morocco | Apply for an e-visa before travel; standard processing target 72 Moroccan working hours, fee shown in the official portal | Passport / residence | Up to 30 days |
| Azerbaijan | ASAN e-visa, US$29 standard total (US$20 state fee + US$9 service fee) | Passport | 30 days |
| Albania | Visa-free with a 10-year UAE residence permit and at least 1 year remaining | Residence | Short stay, subject to Albania’s entry rules |
| Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Oman | GCC resident visas and eVisas | Residence | Varies |
Visa-free Asia trips from Dubai on an Indian passport
Thailand changed its visa exemption for Indians to 30 days from 15 September 2026. See the official tourism-authority update and complete the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) before arrival.
Malaysia allows Indians a 30-day visa-free visit until 31 December 2026. Submit the MDAC within three days before arrival and carry a passport with at least six months’ validity, a return ticket and accommodation details. Check for an extension of the scheme before 2027 travel.
Hong Kong normally requires successful free Pre-arrival Registration (PAR) for Indian visitors. PAR is valid for six months for visits of up to 14 days. Print the notification slip and use the same passport. If registration is unsuccessful, apply directly to Hong Kong Immigration for an entry visa.
Kazakhstan allows Indians 14 days per visit, up to 42 days in any 180, under its visa-free rules.
Trips your UAE residence unlocks
Georgia
India is not on Georgia’s list of 17 nationalities subject to the additional one-year residence-validity rule. A UAE residence permit valid on entry and departure permits 90 days in any 180 without a Georgian visa; the passport needs at least 90 days of validity. Since 1 January 2026, tourists also need health and accident insurance covering the full trip for at least GEL 30,000, in English or Georgian. See the official insurance notice and our Georgia guide.
Armenia
India is on Armenia’s list of 111 eligible nationalities. With a qualifying UAE residence permit valid for at least six months from entry, the temporary exemption allows up to 180 days within a one-year period from 1 July 2026 to 1 July 2027. Carry the physical residence card or passport sticker with the required identifying details. See our Armenia guide.
Morocco and the GCC
Morocco accepts Indian ordinary-passport holders directly for its e-visa: UAE residence is not essential for that nationality-based route. Under the official conditions, the passport needs at least 90 days from application; the single-entry e-visa permits up to 30 days. Standard processing targets 72 Moroccan working hours, excluding incomplete applications. Check the fee in the portal. See the Morocco guide. The five other GCC states have separate resident routes with their own conditions:
- Qatar: the Hayya GCC resident visa.
- Saudi Arabia: apply for the GCC resident eVisa before travel. It permits tourism and Umrah subject to seasonal restrictions; it is not a Hajj visa.
- Bahrain: eVisa.
- Kuwait: a GCC-resident arrival-visa route requires at least six months of residence validity; confirm document and nationality conditions before travel.
- Oman: check the Royal Oman Police eligibility tool for the approved-profession GCC resident route or any passport-based exemption.
Countries that open up with a US, UK or Schengen visa
| Country | Qualifying visa or permit | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Serbia | Valid Schengen, UK, EU-member-state or US visa; or residence permit from the Schengen area, EU or US | Up to 90 days in 6 months, within the supporting document’s validity. A UK residence permit alone is not listed in this exemption. |
| Montenegro | Valid Schengen, US, UK, Irish, Canadian, Australian, New Zealand or Japanese visa or residence permit | Up to 30 days, capped by the supporting document’s expiry |
| Albania | Valid multiple-entry Schengen, EU, US or UK visa previously used in the issuing area/country, or a qualifying residence permit; separate route for a 10-year UAE permit with 1+ year remaining | Short visits subject to entry conditions; for the supporting foreign visa/permit route, depart at least 3 days before that document expires |
| Mexico | Valid, unexpired US, UK, Canadian, Japanese or Schengen visa; qualifying permanent residence is another route | No separate Mexican visa for tourism; admission and stay decided at the border |
| Türkiye | Valid Schengen, US, UK or Irish visa/residence permit, plus all conditions displayed for Indian nationals in the official e-visa application | Conditional tourist/business e-visa; UAE residence alone does not qualify |
| Uzbekistan | Valid multiple-entry business or tourist visa from the US, UK, Schengen area, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan or South Korea, plus a return/onward air ticket | Indian citizens: up to 30 days visa-free from 1 September 2026, within the supporting visa’s validity |
| Philippines | Valid visa or residence permit from Australia, Japan, Canada, the US, Singapore, a Schengen country or the UK | Up to 30 days visa-free, not extendible; passport must be valid 6 months beyond the stay and return/onward ticket is required |
Read our guides to Serbia, Montenegro, Albania, Mexico and Uzbekistan.
Popular trips where Indians still need a visa
- Schengen: a full visa. Start with our Schengen guide for Indians in the UAE.
- UK, US and Canada: full visitor visas. See UK, US and Canada by nationality.
- Japan, South Korea, Singapore: visas through VFS or the consulate. See Japan, South Korea and Singapore.
- China: a tourist (L) visa through the Chinese visa centre. The 240-hour visa-free transit doesn’t apply to Indian passports.
- Australia and New Zealand: online visitor visas.
Before you fly: checklist for Indians leaving the UAE
- Check passport validity for your destination and transit points. Six months is a common requirement, but the starting date and exceptions vary; keep enough blank pages.
- Complete arrival forms and authorisations: TDAC, MDAC, Hong Kong PAR, Sri Lanka ETA and the Maldives IMUGA declaration, as applicable. An arrival card is not a visa.
- Check UAE re-entry eligibility and remaining residence validity. Armenia needs six months from entry; the residence-based Albania route needs a 10-year permit with at least one year left.
- Physical Emirates ID with you.
- Carry return/onward tickets, accommodation and insurance. Georgia requires the specified health and accident cover even for visa-exempt tourists.
- Proof of funds: a card plus a recent bank statement.
- Any other visa you rely on, valid for your travel dates.
Questions people ask
Which countries can Indians in Dubai visit without a visa?
Thailand, Malaysia (until 31 December 2026), Mauritius, Nepal and Kazakhstan offer visa-free entry to Indian passport holders, subject to conditions. Bhutan requires a permit; Hong Kong normally requires PAR; the Philippines allows 14 days with supporting documents. The Maldives issues an arrival visa. Qualifying UAE residence adds Georgia and Armenia.
Do Indians with a UAE residence visa need a visa for Georgia?
No, as long as the UAE residence is valid on the day you enter and the day you leave. You can stay up to 90 days in any 180.
Is Thailand still visa-free for Indians?
Yes, but for 30 days instead of 60, since 15 September 2026. Complete the TDAC online before arrival.
Can Indians get a Turkey e-visa from the UAE?
Indian ordinary-passport holders need a valid Schengen, US, UK or Irish visa or residence permit and all other conditions shown by the official Turkish e-visa system. Other countries’ e-visas are not accepted as supporting documents. UAE residence alone does not qualify; use the sticker-visa route if ineligible.
Is Serbia visa-free for Indians living in the UAE?
Not on the passport since January 2023. It is visa-free for 90 days in 6 months if you hold a valid Schengen, UK, EU or US visa.
Related guides
- Thailand visa for UAE residents
- Malaysia visa for UAE residents
- Kazakhstan visa for UAE residents
- Hong Kong visa for UAE residents
- Balkan trips with a US, UK or Schengen visa
Sources
- Embassy of Georgia to the UAE: visa information (90/180 rule; 17 restricted nationalities): uae.mfa.gov.ge
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia: list of countries, temporary visa exemption (1 July 2026 to 1 July 2027): mfa.am
- Conditional exemptions: Serbia, Montenegro, Albania, Mexico and Türkiye.
- Uzbekistan: Presidential Decree PF-180 of 29 August 2026, covering Indian citizens with qualifying multiple-entry business or tourist visas.
- Other official sources: Sri Lanka ETA; Vietnam e-visa; Seychelles visitor permit; Bhutan entry permits and SDF; Indonesia B1 visa; Bali tourist levy guidance.
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 30 October 2026. Found an error? Email ionicwaleed@gmail.com and it will be fixed and logged.