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๐ฑ๐ฐ Does a Sri Lankan need a visa for the United Arab Emirates ๐ฆ๐ช?
Yes. Sri Lankan passport holders need a visa for the United Arab Emirates, applied for at an embassy or consulate of the United Arab Emirates before travelling.
Rule updated from Wikipedia's โVisa requirements for Sri Lankan citizensโ (checked 2026-10-04); the older passport-index dataset (January 2025) listed e-Visa. Entry rules change: confirm with the embassy of the United Arab Emirates or its official government website before you travel.
โ U.S. State Department travel advisory for the United Arab Emirates: Level 3: Reconsider Travel (updated 29 August 2026). It is written for U.S. citizens; read the advisory before you book.
What this means for your trip
You apply at an embassy, consulate or authorised visa centre of the destination, usually with an application form, passport photos, bank statements, travel itinerary and accommodation bookings.
Processing takes days to weeks, and some embassies require an interview; start the application well before your trip.
Your passport should normally be valid for at least six months beyond your planned departure date and have blank pages for stamps; many countries apply this rule.
Where to apply in Sri Lanka
If you live in Sri Lanka, visas for the United Arab Emirates are issued by its missions there. Many of them use an outsourced visa application centre: the mission's website says where to apply and which office covers your region.
- Embassy of the United Arab Emirates, Colombo ยท 44 Sir Ernesrt De Silva Mawatha,Colombo 7 ยท mofaic.gov.ae
Missions from Wikidata (CC0), checked 2026-09-26. Addresses and opening hours change: check the mission's website before you go.
United Arab Emirates at a glance
Capital: Abu Dhabi ยท Currency: United Arab Emirates dirham (AED, ุฏ.ุฅ) ยท Official languages: Arabic ยท Calling code: +971
Plugs and voltage
Some of your plugs fit (G); for type D, M plugs bring a travel adapter for the United Arab Emirates's sockets (C, G). Mains voltage differs (the United Arab Emirates: 220 V; Sri Lanka: 230 V): most phone and laptop chargers accept 100โ240 V, but single-voltage devices such as some hair dryers need a converter.
More about entering the United Arab Emirates โ
Easier destinations near the United Arab Emirates for Sri Lankan passport holders
- ๐ฆ๐ฟ Azerbaijan โ e-Visa
- ๐ง๐ญ Bahrain โ e-Visa
- ๐ฎ๐ถ Iraq โ e-Visa
- ๐ฎ๐ฑ Israel โ e-Visa 90 days
- ๐ถ๐ฆ Qatar โ e-Visa
- ๐ธ๐พ Syria โ e-Visa
The other way round
๐ฆ๐ช Emirati passport holders visiting Sri Lanka: Emirati passport holders can get a visa on arrival in Sri Lanka, usually at the airport or land border.
The Sri Lankan passport at a glance
All destinations for Sri Lanka passport holders โ ยท Who needs a visa for the United Arab Emirates โ
Questions
Do Sri Lankan citizens need a visa for the United Arab Emirates?
Sri Lankan passport holders need a visa for the United Arab Emirates, applied for at an embassy or consulate of the United Arab Emirates before travelling.
Does an Emirati need a visa for Sri Lanka?
Emirati passport holders can get a visa on arrival in Sri Lanka, usually at the airport or land border.