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Do Emirati citizens need a visa for China?
United Arab Emirates 
China United Arab Emirates passport holders can enter China without a visa for up to 30 days.
No visa needed
- Entry requirement
- Visa-free
- Maximum stay
- 30 days
- Apply before travel
- No
- Last updated
- February 2026
Before you travel
Checked November 2026At the border
- Ordinary passport holders of 50 countries (unilateral visa-free list as of 17 February 2026, including most of Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Canada, Brazil and several Gulf states) can stay up to 30 days visa-free for tourism, business, visits, exchanges or transit.
- Nationals of 57 countries can use 240-hour (10-day) visa-free transit through 65 designated ports, but only with a confirmed onward ticket to a third country or region and only within the permitted areas.
- Anyone may transit for up to 24 hours without a visa if they stay inside the port's restricted area.
- Regional schemes exist, such as a 30-day visa-free stay in Hainan for 61 nationalities.
- Foreign arrivals fill in an arrival card; NIA offers an online arrival card form (s.nia.gov.cn/ArrivalCardFillingPC/).
- Visa-free stay does not allow work, study or news reporting; the day count starts at midnight after the day of entry.
Recent changes
- February 2026: NIA published an updated list of 50 countries covered by the unilateral 30-day visa-free policy.
- August 2026: NIA republished the 240-hour transit policy covering 57 countries and 65 ports, plus the regional visa-free policies.
Official source: National Immigration Administration of China (NIA) · Not yet confirmed officially: End date of the unilateral 30-day visa-free policy (not stated on the NIA list page), consularVisa.fee and processing: depend on nationality and embassy; not confirmed on an official page, Passport validity rule for visa applications (commonly 6 months, not confirmed on a page read), Whether the online arrival card is mandatory or optional (the NIA page content could not be read), Official online visa application system (COVA) availability: page returned an error
What United Arab Emirates passport holders need to do
- Check your passport validity. Many countries ask for at least 6 months beyond your arrival date.
- Be ready to show a return or onward ticket, proof of accommodation and proof of funds at the border.
- Leave before the permitted stay ends. Working or studying usually needs a different visa.
United Arab Emirates is one of 67 passports in the “visa-free” group for China. See the full China visa requirements for every passport.
Other easy destinations in Asia for United Arab Emirates passport holders
China is one of 127 destinations in the “visa-free” group for the United Arab Emirates passport, which ranks #1 worldwide with a mobility score of 168. Of 49 destinations in Asia, 42 need no visa arranged in advance; the easiest are listed below.
| Destination | Requirement | Max stay |
|---|---|---|
 Armenia | Visa-free | 180 days |
 Azerbaijan | Visa-free | 90 days |
 Bahrain | Visa-free | – |
 Brunei | Visa-free | 30 days |
| China | Visa-free | 30 days |
 Georgia | Visa-free | 90 days |
 Hong Kong | Visa-free | 30 days |
 Iran | Visa-free | 15 days |
 Israel | Visa-free | 90 days |
 Japan | Visa-free | 30 days |
 Jordan | Visa-free | 90 days |
 Kazakhstan | Visa-free | 30 days |
All visa-free countries for the United Arab Emirates passport
Frequently asked questions
Do Emirati citizens need a visa for China?
United Arab Emirates passport holders can enter China without a visa for up to 30 days.
How long can United Arab Emirates passport holders stay in China?
Up to 30 days without a visa.
Do China citizens need a visa for the United Arab Emirates?
China passport holders can enter the United Arab Emirates without a visa for up to 30 days.
China visa requirements for other passports
Data last updated February 2026. This page covers short visits such as tourism. Rules can change at short notice and differ for work, study or long stays. Confirm with the embassy or official immigration website of China before you book.