A weekend in Oman is one of those trips you can almost decide on a whim. Fly into Muscat in under an hour, or throw a bag in the car after work and catch sunrise over the Musandam mountains. The only bit you cannot wing is the visa, so let's get that sorted.
Short version: yes, as a UAE resident you need an Oman visa, but you pay a lot less than most people. For plenty of residents it is OMR 5, around AED 47, and that covers you for 28 days. There is one condition attached to that price, and it catches people out at the border more than anything else. More on that below.
Do UAE residents actually need a visa for Oman?
If you hold a UAE passport, no. Emiratis walk in on their passport or Emirates ID and that is that.
Everyone else on a residence permit does need one. And a common mix-up worth clearing up: the residence visa in your passport does not get you into Oman. It only proves you live here, which is what qualifies you for the cheaper GCC-resident rate. You still apply for an actual Oman visa on top.
The three ways UAE residents usually get in
Most people go one of three routes.
- The first is the GCC-resident eVisa: OMR 5, good for 28 days, done online before you leave. If your job qualifies, this is the one you want.
- The second is visa on arrival, same OMR 5, usually around 14 days, picked up at the land borders or at Muscat airport. Same job condition applies.
- The third is the standard tourist eVisa, for anyone whose profession is not on the GCC list. That runs OMR 20 for 30 days, or about OMR 50 for a year of multiple entry, and sometimes needs a sponsor.
What an Oman visa costs in 2026
| Visa type | Duration | Fee (OMR) | Roughly (AED) |
| GCC-resident eVisa / visa on arrival | 28 days | 5 | 47 |
| Tourist eVisa, single entry | 30 days | 20 | 190 |
| Tourist eVisa, multiple entry | 1 year | 50 | 475 |
| UAE exit fee (land border only) | one-off | - | 35 |
The Royal Oman Police set these and they move around, so check the official portal before you pay. And the visa is not the whole bill if you drive. Add the AED 35 UAE exit fee at the border, plus insurance that covers your car in Oman.
The profession rule nobody warns you about
Read this bit twice. That OMR 5 rate, whether you take it online or at the border, only goes to residents whose job title on the Emirates ID sits on Oman's approved profession list. Doctors, engineers, teachers, finance and management people, that sort of thing.
If your title is not on the list, the cheap visa-on-arrival option simply is not open to you. You would apply for a standard tourist eVisa instead, sometimes through a sponsor or an agent. And here is the annoying part: the list gets updated without much announcement. So do yourself a favour and apply online a few days before you travel. Being sent back from the Hatta border because of your job title is a rotten way to start a Friday.
What to bring
You need a passport with at least six months left on it, your Emirates ID, and a passport-size photo for the online form. If you go the tourist eVisa route, they may also ask for return travel and a hotel booking.
Applying for the eVisa online
Doing it yourself on the Royal Oman Police site is quick, and usually the smarter play than paying an agent:
- Go to evisa.rop.gov.om and make an account.
- Pick your visa type. For most residents that is the unsponsored GCC-resident tourist visa.
- Enter your passport, nationality, and occupation.
- Upload your passport, Emirates ID, and photo.
- Pay by card.
- Wait for the email. GCC-resident applications often come back in 24 to 72 hours, but give it up to four or five working days just in case.
It arrives as a PDF. Keep it on your phone and print a copy too, because the officers will ask to see it.
Can I enter Oman with a UAE resident visa?
On its own, no. Your UAE residence visa lets you live in the Emirates, but it will not get you across the Oman border by itself. You still need an actual Oman visa, either the eVisa or one on arrival. What your residency buys you is the OMR 5 rate for 28 days, as long as your Emirates ID profession qualifies.
How much is an Oman visa for UAE residents?
For most residents, OMR 5, about AED 47, for the 28-day GCC-resident visa or visa on arrival. Go the standard tourist route and a 30-day eVisa is around OMR 20 (AED 190), while a one-year multiple-entry visa runs about OMR 50 (AED 475). Driving over adds the AED 35 UAE exit fee.
Can UAE residents get a visa on arrival?
Yes, if your profession is on Oman's approved list. Eligible residents pay OMR 5 at Muscat airport or the main land borders and get roughly 14 days. Bring a passport with six months' validity and your Emirates ID. They check eligibility right there at the counter, which is exactly why a lot of people would rather do the eVisa online and skip the suspense.
Can I get a visa on arrival in Oman?
Yes. It is available at Muscat International Airport and at land crossings like Hatta and Al Wajajah. You pay OMR 5 on the spot, with the same six-month passport and Emirates ID. The profession rule still applies, so it is not a certainty for everyone. If you want zero surprises, get the eVisa approved before you go.
Driving to Oman: the border crossings
Taking the car opens up a few crossings, and each one lands you somewhere different:
- Al Darah, via Route E11 through Ras Al Khaimah, for Musandam and the Khasab dolphin cruises.
- UAE/Oman Dibba, via Route E99 through Fujairah, for Dibba and southern Musandam.
- Khatmat Milaha, also on the E99 through Fujairah, for Sohar and the road down to Muscat.
- Hatta and Al Wajajah, on Route E44, the usual choice for Muscat and the north.
- Mezyad, via Al Ain on Route E40, for the south and for Salalah in the Khareef season.
Whichever one you take, the routine is the same. Pay the AED 35 exit fee on the UAE side, get stamped in or show your eVisa at Omani immigration, show your motor insurance, and let customs give the car a quick look before you roll through.
Sorting out car insurance before you drive
This is where road trips quietly go wrong. Your normal UAE motor policy almost certainly stops at the border. To drive legally in Oman you need cover that crosses with you, either an Oman extension on your current policy or separate cover, and it usually starts from around AED 106 depending on the car and the level you choose.
Skipping it costs you twice over. You can be turned back at the crossing, and if anything happens on the road, the bill lands on you personally. Ten minutes before you leave sorts it. You can compare Oman-inclusive car insurance on Shory, and it is worth asking whether your current policy can just be extended rather than swapped out.
How long can you stay?
The GCC-resident eVisa gives you 28 days. Visa on arrival is usually about 14. The standard 30-day tourist eVisa gives you a full month. Whatever you get, overstaying racks up daily fines, so match your dates to the visa and be back before it lapses.
The bottom line
For most UAE residents, this is a cheap, quick trip. OMR 5, 28 days, a passport with six months left, and an Emirates ID with a job title that qualifies. Check the profession list first, apply for the eVisa a few days ahead so the border is a non-event, and if you are driving, do not leave without insurance that covers Oman.
