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United Arab Emirates → China

China visa requirements for United Arab Emirates citizens (2026)

Visa-free · up to 30 days. No. United Arab Emirates passport holders do not need a visa for China for tourism and can stay up to 30 days. You still need a valid passport and should carry proof of onward travel.

Visa-free for up to 30 days, no advance application needed.

VTBy the Visa and Trips editorial teamLast updated

China entry requirements for United Arab Emirates citizens

Requirement
Visa-free
Allowed stay
30 days

What to bring to China

  • Passport valid for the whole stay (many countries expect 6 months beyond arrival)
  • Return or onward ticket
  • Proof of accommodation (hotel booking or host address)
  • Proof of sufficient funds (bank card or recent statement)
  • Any arrival card or registration the destination asks for

Recent rule changes for China

  • 2026-08: Unilateral 30-day visa-free entry covers 50 countries until 31 Dec 2026 (Brunei open-ended, Russia to 31 Dec 2027).

Good to know

  • Visa-free entry does not cover work, study or journalism.
  • Carry invitation letters or bookings that match your purpose of visit.

China at a glance for travellers

  • 83 of 198 passports can enter China without a visa (visa-free, visa on arrival or an ETA).
  • The United Arab Emirates passport gets visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 160 destinations in our dataset.

Sources and last checked

WhatOfficial sourceChecked
Requirement & allowed stayOpen passport-index dataset (passportindex.org data, 17 Feb 2026)17 Feb 2026
Fees, processing & entry formalitiesChinese Embassy: FAQs on visa-free entry23 Oct 2026
Official portalChina visa (MFA consular service)23 Oct 2026
Independent official overviewUK FCDO, China entry requirements22 Oct 2026

The Visa and Trips editorial team checks these sources every week. See our editorial and verification policy.

Frequently asked questions

Do United Arab Emirates citizens need a visa for China?

No. United Arab Emirates passport holders do not need a visa for China for tourism and can stay up to 30 days. You still need a valid passport and should carry proof of onward travel.

How long can United Arab Emirates passport holders stay in China?

Up to 30 days per visit for tourism without a visa. Overstaying can lead to fines or entry bans.

What documents do United Arab Emirates passport holders need for China?

Passport valid for the whole stay (many countries expect 6 months beyond arrival); Return or onward ticket; Proof of accommodation (hotel booking or host address); Proof of sufficient funds (bank card or recent statement); Any arrival card or registration the destination asks for.

Do United Arab Emirates passport holders need to apply for anything before travelling to China?

No advance visa application is needed for a tourist visit. Carry a valid passport and proof of onward travel.