Most Dubai refusals we see are not about eligibility. They are about a scan that cut off the passport's bottom edge, or a photo taken against a cream wall instead of a white one. The requirements are short, which is exactly why people skim them.
1. Passport scan Colour, both the first and last pages, all four corners visible, and at least six months of validity remaining from your date of entry. Photograph it flat in daylight rather than using a scanner app that crops aggressively.
2. Photograph 45mm × 35mm, plain white background, taken within the last three months, neutral expression with the mouth closed. No spectacle glare, no shadow behind the head.
3. Confirmed return ticket A held reservation is not a confirmed ticket. The itinerary must show a PNR and your name spelled exactly as it appears in the passport.
4. Accommodation proof A hotel booking covering every night of the stay, or your host's Emirates ID and a short invitation letter if you are staying with family.
What holds files up Name spelled differently on the ticket and the passport. A photo with a grey or cream background. A passport expiring inside six months of entry. A hotel booking that ends before the flight out.
If you send us what you have, we will tell you which of these needs redoing before anything is filed.
Rules change. This guide reflects our filing experience at the time of writing — confirm the current position with us before you book travel.