Ghana to Dubai: Your Comprehensive Travel and Visa Guide

Nov 06, 2025 0

Dubai, a city of superlatives, offers an unforgettable experience with its modern architecture, luxury shopping, and rich cultural heritage. If you're planning a trip from Ghana to Dubai, this guide provides essential information on visa requirements, travel tips, and what to expect during your visit.

General Information About Ghana

Ghana is bounded on the South by the Atlantic Ocean and on the West by La Cote d'Ivoire, the East by Togo and the North by Burkina Faso. The South Western part is located within the warm wet forest zone similar to the Amazon. Accra, the capital, is located in the dry equatorial zones. Kumasi is in the wet savanna.

Currency and Electricity

Ghana’s currency is the cedi, which comes in denominations of GHC 200, 100, 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1. Coins come in denominations of GHC 2 and 1 and also 50p, 20p, 10p, 5p & 1 pesewas.

If you are bringing along any electrical appliances, they should operate on or be adaptable to 220/240 volts. Electric outlets in Ghana accept either 3pronged, or sometimes 2-pronged.

What to Pack

Since the climate is warm and tropical all year round, be sure to pack light washable cotton clothing and casual wear. Do not forget your sunglasses and comfortable walking shoes. There are no restrictions on what men and women may wear.

Read also: Baskets from Ghana

Accommodation and Healthcare

Ghana offers a wide range of hotel accommodation for her growing economy and tourist industry; cosmopolitan, metropolitan, district town and country hotels and park lodges of varying comfort, elegance and convenience.

Modern private and public hospitals and clinics are available in all cities and big towns.

Payment Options and Connectivity

The most widely accepted credit cards are Visa and MasterCard. These cards are accepted in major hotels, restaurants, banks and businesses. Your card may be used for payment at almost all airlines, leading hotels and major supermarkets. Most major hotels also have business centers, which provide secretarial and courier services.

With a valid Identity card/passport, one can acquire a SIM card from any of the Telecommunications companies.

Nightlife

Most cities and towns have facilities for nightlife such as cultural centers to theatres, cinema houses, discotheques, pubs, street cafes and casinos.

Visa Requirements for Ghanaians

Visas are required by UAE nationals.

Before you travel to the UAE, please check your visa requirements and make sure you have a valid visa if needed, or if your passport needs to be valid for six months. Holders of non-standard passports and travel documents may also have different entry requirements: find out if you need to apply for a visa and other passport requirements.

As of April 29, 2016, GCC residence permit holders will need to apply for a UAE visa before arriving in Dubai.

Visa-Free Entry

If you are a passport holder of the below country or territory, no advance visa arrangements are required to visit the UAE. Simply disembark your flight at Dubai International and proceed to immigration, where your passport will be stamped with a 30-day visit visa free of charge.

Andorra
Brunei
Hong Kong, China
Kazakhstan
Macau, China
Malaysia
Mauritius
Monaco
Mongolia
Republic of Ireland
Ukraine
Uzbekistan
Vatican City

90-Day Visit Eligibility

If you are a passport holder of one of the below countries or territories, your passport will be stamped with a multiple entry 90-day visit visa that's valid for 6 months from the date of issue, and for a stay of 90 days in total. Citizens of the below European countries are also entitled to apply for a pre-arranged visit visa if their 90-day visa on arrival has been fully utilized.

Read also: Ghana Soccer Jersey

Albania
Argentina
Armenia
Austria
Australia
Azerbaijan
Bahamas Islands
Barbados
Belarus
Belgium
Bosnia
Brazil
Bulgaria
Canada
Chile
China
Colombia
Costa Rica
Croatia
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
El Salvador
Estonia
Fiji
Finland
France
Georgia
Germany
Greece
Honduras
Hungary
Iceland
Israel
Italy
Japan
Kiribati
Kosovo
Latvia
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Maldives
Malta
Montenegro
Nauru
Netherlands
New Zealand
Norway
Paraguay
Peru
Poland
Portugal
Republic of Guyana
Romania
Russian Federation
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
San Marino
Serbia
Seychelles
Singapore
Slovakia
Slovenia
Solomon Islands
South Korea
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
United Kingdom and Northern Ireland
United States of America
Uruguay

180-Day Visit Eligibility

If you hold a Mexican passport you’re eligible for a multiple entry 180-day visit visa that's valid for 6 months from the date of issue, and for a stay of 180 days in total.

Preapproved UAE Visas for Indian Nationals

From January 7, 2024, eligible Indian nationals with a normal passport valid for a minimum of six months can obtain a single entry, 14-day visa on arrival. A fee of USD 63 applies.

Eligibility:

Indian passport holder with USA visa valid for a minimum of six months
Indian passport holder with USA green card valid for a minimum of six months
Indian passport holder with UK residence card valid for a minimum of six months
Indian passport holder with EU residence card from the following countries valid for a minimum of six months
Indian passport holder with residence permit issued by Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Republic of Korea and Singapore valid for a minimum of six months

Countries:

Australia
Austria
Belgium
Bulgaria
Canada
Croatia
Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Ireland
Italy
Japan
Latvia
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Malta
Netherlands
New Zealand
Poland
Portugal
Republic of Cyprus
Republic of Korea
Romania
Singapore
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden

Eligible Indian nationals can apply for their UAE entry permit on emirates.com through Manage your booking.

Types of Prearranged UAE Visas

Here's a summary of the different types of prearranged UAE visas, their validity, and costs:

Dubai Travel Advice: Dos and Don'ts for Tourists

Visa Type	Validity Before Entry*	Validity After Entry	Cost (inclusive VAT)	Extension
48-hour	30 days from issue date	48 hours from arrival date	USD 10	Non-extendable
96-hour	30 days from issue date	96 hours from arrival date	USD 49	Non-extendable
Tourism - Single Entry - 30 Days	60 days from issue date	30 days from arrival date	USD 90	Extendable - USD 230
Tourism - Multiple Entry - 30 Days	60 days from issue date	30 days from first entry	USD 136	Extendable - USD 230
Tourism - Single Entry - 60 Days	60 days from issue date	60 days from arrival date	USD 177	Extendable - USD 230
Tourism - Multiple Entry - 60 Days	60 days from issue date	60 days from first entry	USD 231	Extendable - USD 230

NOTE: For Extension, Original passport and ticket copy required. Extensions can be made at the airport office only.

Required applicant documents:

Color photograph of applicant.
Color copy of applicant’s passport. The passport must be valid for at least six months.
You can download the application form (available at all Emirates Ticketing Offices) in Arabic or English depending on the applicant’s nationality.
A confirmed hotel reservation for the duration of your stay in the UAE or a valid tenancy contract with your family member’s name (father, mother, brother or sister) if staying with them on your visit.
A copy of your return Emirates ticket, or codeshare flight that starts with the code “EK”, and the ticket number should start with “176”.

Additional Documents Required for Visitors of Some Countries

Additional documents may be required, depending on your country of residence. Please use our visa search tool above or visit our visa requirements page for more information.

Afghanistan: National ID Card (Tazkira ID)
Iraq: National ID Card
Pakistan: National ID Card
Iran: National ID Card

Rules and Conditions

Sponsor or applicant will be responsible for a visitor overstay and overstay fines.
A Refundable deposit of AED 1,000 for friend. Sponsor must claim the deposit within a maximum of two years from the application submission date.
Refund of visa fee before processing of an application, AED 50 will be deducted on refund process.
Additional documents may be required by the authorities.
Visa fees must be paid upon application.
Additional visa processing fees may apply.
A copy of your Emirates Airline ticket, or codeshare flight that starts with the code ‘EK’, and the ticket number should start with ‘176’.
Visa fees are nonrefundable.
The ticket is non-refundable if the visa has been issued and utilized.
Visa processing time is approximately 3 to 4 working days.
Entry into the UAE is subject to immigration approval.
All visas are valid to enter Dubai for 60 days from the date of issue, except the 96-hour and 48-hour visas, which are valid for 30 days from the date of issue.

How and Where to Apply for Your Prearranged UAE Visa

Nationals of countries requiring a prearranged UAE visa can now apply and pay for their visas online through emirates.com.

If you are traveling to or stopping over in Dubai with Emirates, you can submit an application and receive your UAE visa entirely online-without having to submit your passport for stamping. You can apply for your UAE visa through our Manage your booking after you book your Emirates flight. VFS processing fees apply. For more information please visit VFS Global.

The online visa application service is available for residents and nationals of many countries around the world. Find out if you can apply for a UAE visa. Applicants' passports must have at least six months' validity as of the date of travel to Dubai and must be machine-readable; handwritten passports are not accepted.

This service is only available to passengers with a confirmed Emirates booking where an Emirates ticket has already been issued and the flight itinerary already includes the desired time in Dubai. The itinerary into and out of Dubai should be on one ticket (PNR), and these flights must be Emirates flights. Note that itineraries including flights to or from Dubai on other carriers are not eligible for online visa service.

A minimum of 4 international working days prior to arrival in Dubai is required; however, Emirates recommends that online applications be made as early as possible.

Apply in the UAE

If you have a family member or near relative who is a UAE resident, they can apply for a visa on your behalf at any of our ticketing offices in the UAE. Please note that this service is only available to residents of the UAE.

Dubai Immigration Procedures

As an added security measure, Immigration Authorities at Dubai International are now conducting random visual screening for visitors to Dubai.

Visitors asked to proceed for visual screening are required to present a hard copy of their visa or a printed version of the visa number confirmation page at the screening counter. If you do not have a copy of your visa with you, a charge of AED 30 per copy applies, payable only in AED.

Common Reasons for Visa Rejection

Understanding why Dubai visit visa applications get rejected can help you avoid delays:

Incorrect or incomplete documents
Insufficient bank balance
Previous visa violations
Overstaying on a previous UAE visa

How Long Does It Take to Process a Dubai Visa for Ghanaians?

The average processing time for a Dubai e-Visa for Ghanaians is 3 to 5 working days. However, urgent applications may be processed faster.

Can You Extend a Dubai Visa?

Yes, you can extend your Dubai tourist visa for Ghanaians for an additional 30 or 60 days before it expires.

Tips for a Smooth Visa Approval

To increase your chances of approval:

Apply early (at least two weeks before travel)
Ensure accurate information
Provide a valid bank statement
Avoid overstaying on previous visas

Flights and Timing

Flights from Accra to Dubai are plentiful, with direct and connecting options available.

Dubai’s weather is sunny year-round, but the best time to visit is during the cooler months from November to March. During this period, the city hosts numerous events, including the Dubai Shopping Festival and the Global Village. Travelling in the summer (June to August)? You’ll find great deals on flights and accommodations, but be prepared for higher temperatures.