India eVisa for UAE & Gulf Citizens 2026 — Dubai, Riyadh, Doha

All six GCC member states are eligible for the India eVisa program in 2026. Citizens of the United Arab Emirates, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the State of Qatar, the State of Kuwait, the Kingdom of Bahrain, and the Sultanate of Oman can apply for eTourist, eBusiness, eMedical, and eConference visas. The application process is identical for all GCC nationalities, though fees may vary slightly. Residents of GCC countries holding passports from other nations should check eligibility based on their passport nationality, not their country of residence.

One of the most common issues for GCC applicants is name discrepancy between Arabic and English transliterations. Your name on the eVisa application must match your passport's English transliteration exactly. Common issues include variations like Mohammed vs. Muhammad vs. Mohamed, or Al- vs. El- prefixes. Check the English name printed on your passport bio-data page and enter it character-for-character. Do not translate or re-transliterate from Arabic script. If your passport has a discrepancy between the Arabic and English versions, always use the English spelling.

The Gulf region has the highest frequency of flights to India of any region in the world. Emirates and flydubai operate over 150 weekly flights from Dubai (DXB) to more than 12 Indian cities including Delhi, Mumbai, Kochi, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Ahmedabad, and Thiruvananthapuram. Saudi Arabian Airlines (Saudia) and Air India fly from Riyadh (RUH) and Jeddah (JED) to Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, and Kochi. Qatar Airways connects Doha (DOH) to over 10 Indian cities. Kuwait Airways, Gulf Air, and Oman Air also provide extensive India connections.

India is the top medical tourism destination for Gulf residents, with world-class hospitals in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, and Bengaluru offering treatments at a fraction of Gulf prices. The eMedical Visa is valid for 60 days with triple entry and is specifically designed for patients traveling for treatment. Applicants need a letter from the Indian hospital confirming the treatment and a recommendation from a local doctor. The eMedical Attendant Visa allows a companion to travel with the patient. Processing for medical visas is often prioritized at 48 to 72 hours.

India eVisa fees for GCC citizens in 2026 follow the standard fee schedule for most nationalities. The 30-day eTourist Visa costs approximately USD 25, the 1-year multiple-entry visa is around USD 40, and the 5-year option is approximately USD 80. The eMedical Visa costs approximately USD 25. Payment can be made with Visa or Mastercard issued by GCC banks. A processing surcharge of approximately 2.5% applies. UAE-based applicants using cards with AED currency will see the conversion on their bank statement.

The Gulf-India trade corridor is one of the busiest in Asia, with bilateral trade exceeding USD 100 billion annually. The eBusiness Visa is valid for 1 year with multiple entries and covers trade meetings, contract negotiations, establishing business ventures, and attending trade exhibitions. Gulf business travelers visiting India frequently for trade can also consider the 5-year eTourist Visa for trips that combine personal and exploratory business purposes. The eBusiness Visa requires a letter of invitation from the Indian business partner.