Dubai is one of those destinations that attract many visitors every year to enjoy a sprawling city in the middle of the desert and on the shores of the Persian Gulf. With modern architecture, museums, year-round sunny beaches, shopping, desert getaways, old town sightseeing and lively nightlife, there is something for every type of traveller. When planning a trip to the UAE's premier city, it's time to consider what documents you'll need to enter the country, including the visa issue. Here are the answers to your questions about the need for a visa to visit Dubai

Do French people need a visa to visit Dubai?

French travellers, and more generally European travellers, are exempt from visa requirements to visit Dubai for any stay of 90 days within a 180-day period. Once there, they are issued a visa for a period of 90 days, which is valid for 6 months with several possible entries. There is therefore no need to take any steps from France concerning the visa before going to Dubai. However, be careful to leave with a valid passport.

However, French travellers who have used their 90-day credit over a period of 180 days and wish to travel to Dubai again, or extend their stay, are required to apply for a Dubai e-visa online, whether they have left or are still in the country. The process is mandatory for all types of stays, be it tourism, business or study. To obtain this e-visa, nothing could be easier. All you have to do is log on to Visa Connect, choose the formula with the number of days you want to stay, the processing time, enter the traveller's details and then pay directly via the online platform. At the same time, a number of documents must be sent to the email address provided. These include a scan of the first passport, a digital passport photo in colour on a light background and currently a copy of an insurance certificate covering Covid-19 related hospitalization costs. Once you receive your Dubai e-visa, you have 60 days to enter the city.

What to do once in Dubai?

Once you are in good standing, i.e. you are travelling with a valid passport and you apply for your e-visa because you have used up your 90 days credit over a period of 180 days, there is nothing left to do but enjoy all the things you did not have time to do in the city.

And there are a thousand things to do in this treasure located in the heart of the desert! Of course, don't forget your camera when you climb the floors of the Burj Khalifa tower to capture one of the most impressive panoramas in the world, with the skyscrapers, the sea and the desert in the distance. Afterwards, we'll head to the Dubai Mall for a good shopping spree. There is plenty to do with the 1,200 shops in this huge shopping mall, the most visited in the world.

Dubai also has beaches for sunbathing and swimming, such as Sunset Beach with its breathtaking view of the Burj Al Arab hotel. And for those who want to see the real thing, head for the traditional districts of Deira and Bur Dubai, perfect places to stroll through the souks, taste the local cuisine and then head to the Dubai Museum. A visit to this cultural site is a must if you want to understand the history of this incredible and unusual city. And then, a stay should also include a trip to the desert, an opportunity for a total change of atmosphere, with the possibility of taking a camel ride and having lunch in the heart of a Bedouin camp

Read more: What is the difference between a visa and a passport?