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Dubai · United Arab Emirates

Visa issuances and wait times at the U.S. post in Dubai

Monthly tables Mar 2017 to Sep 2025 · 41st of 217 posts by nonimmigrant issuances in Sep 2025 · wait times read 1 Jul 2026

The reports below contain preliminary data which are subject to change. Beginning with FY 2020, individual monthly issuance reports should not be aggregated, as this will not provide an accurate issuance total for the fiscal year to date. Instead, refer to our annual Report of the Visa Office for final full Fiscal Year statistics. On wait times the Department says: "New appointments are added regularly, so you may get an appointment sooner" and "The average wait times we report do not guarantee a visa applicant will get an appointment within a specific time."

In September 2025, the latest month published, the post in Dubai (United Arab Emirates) issued 5,154 nonimmigrant visas, down 15% on September 2024 (6,086).

The largest classes that month were B1/B2 (temporary visitor for business and pleasure) with 4,246, 82.4% of the post's issuances, C1/D (combined transit and crewmember visa) with 673, 13.1% of the post's issuances and H1B (temporary worker of distinguished merit and ability performing services other than as a registered nurse) with 37, 0.7% of the post's issuances. Among the 211 posts that issued B1/B2 visas in September 2025, Dubai ranks 34th by count; for F1 student visas it ranks 64th of 184.

The immigrant visa table for September 2025 lists no issuances for this post; many posts handle only nonimmigrant applications.

The Department publishes annual totals separately, in its Report of the Visa Office; this site does not add monthly reports together, so the month-by-month table below is read one month at a time.

The Department's Global Visa Wait Times table read on 1 Jul 2026 listed the next available appointment as 12.5 months for a visitor (B1/B2) interview, 1.5 months for students and exchange visitors (F, M, J) and 1.5 months for petition-based workers (H, L, O, P, Q). For visitor visas that is longer than the 12 months listed about six months earlier (2 Dec 2025).

Appointment wait times

Visitor B1/B212.5 monthsnext available appointment; median post 1 month
Student F, M, J1.5 monthsnext available appointment; median post under ½ month
Worker H, L, O, P, Q1.5 monthsnext available appointment; median post under ½ month

under 2 months2 to 6 monthsover 6 monthsnot listedRead from the Department's table 1 Jul 2026.

5,154nonimmigrant visas, Sep 2025-15% vs Sep 2024 (6,086)
6,068nonimmigrant visas, Aug 2025-15% month on month
0immigrant visas, Sep 20250 in Sep 2024
0.63%share of worldwide nonimmigrant issuances, Sep 2025median post: 909 that month

The Department publishes annual totals separately, in its Report of the Visa Office; monthly reports are not summed on this site.

Monthly issuances by broad class, last 36 months

03,7377,474VisitorsStudents and exchange visitorsTemporary workersDiplomatic, official and international organisationTransit and crewOther nonimmigrant classesOct 2022Apr 2023Oct 2023Apr 2024Oct 2024Apr 2025Oct 2022: 4,906 (Visitors 3,932, Students and exchange visitors 238, Temporary workers 211, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 3, Transit and crew 522, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Nov 2022: 4,385 (Visitors 3,508, Students and exchange visitors 253, Temporary workers 177, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 14, Transit and crew 433, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Dec 2022: 3,232 (Visitors 2,478, Students and exchange visitors 256, Temporary workers 119, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 4, Transit and crew 375, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Jan 2023: 4,515 (Visitors 3,787, Students and exchange visitors 190, Temporary workers 117, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 3, Transit and crew 418, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Feb 2023: 3,987 (Visitors 3,400, Students and exchange visitors 74, Temporary workers 100, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 12, Transit and crew 401, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Mar 2023: 5,256 (Visitors 4,386, Students and exchange visitors 170, Temporary workers 133, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 8, Transit and crew 559, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Apr 2023: 3,442 (Visitors 2,891, Students and exchange visitors 122, Temporary workers 132, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 8, Transit and crew 289, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)May 2023: 4,560 (Visitors 3,576, Students and exchange visitors 341, Temporary workers 210, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 12, Transit and crew 421, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Jun 2023: 3,847 (Visitors 3,001, Students and exchange visitors 422, Temporary workers 152, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 6, Transit and crew 266, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Jul 2023: 4,710 (Visitors 3,464, Students and exchange visitors 735, Temporary workers 185, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 2, Transit and crew 324, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Aug 2023: 5,809 (Visitors 4,366, Students and exchange visitors 494, Temporary workers 218, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 3, Transit and crew 728, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Sep 2023: 4,301 (Visitors 3,350, Students and exchange visitors 78, Temporary workers 113, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 15, Transit and crew 745, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Oct 2023: 6,442 (Visitors 5,207, Students and exchange visitors 122, Temporary workers 139, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 6, Transit and crew 968, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Nov 2023: 4,772 (Visitors 3,922, Students and exchange visitors 137, Temporary workers 192, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 3, Transit and crew 518, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Dec 2023: 2,750 (Visitors 2,235, Students and exchange visitors 114, Temporary workers 141, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 2, Transit and crew 258, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Jan 2024: 6,771 (Visitors 5,611, Students and exchange visitors 141, Temporary workers 276, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 8, Transit and crew 735, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Feb 2024: 6,981 (Visitors 5,993, Students and exchange visitors 48, Temporary workers 107, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 16, Transit and crew 817, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Mar 2024: 7,474 (Visitors 6,278, Students and exchange visitors 141, Temporary workers 200, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 23, Transit and crew 832, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Apr 2024: 5,483 (Visitors 4,265, Students and exchange visitors 151, Temporary workers 97, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 14, Transit and crew 956, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)May 2024: 7,399 (Visitors 6,143, Students and exchange visitors 417, Temporary workers 178, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 12, Transit and crew 649, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Jun 2024: 5,199 (Visitors 3,809, Students and exchange visitors 500, Temporary workers 119, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 7, Transit and crew 764, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Jul 2024: 5,196 (Visitors 3,899, Students and exchange visitors 511, Temporary workers 169, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 1, Transit and crew 616, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Aug 2024: 5,824 (Visitors 4,516, Students and exchange visitors 276, Temporary workers 164, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 3, Transit and crew 865, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Sep 2024: 6,086 (Visitors 5,207, Students and exchange visitors 100, Temporary workers 156, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 4, Transit and crew 619, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Oct 2024: 6,594 (Visitors 5,473, Students and exchange visitors 180, Temporary workers 193, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 6, Transit and crew 742, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Nov 2024: 4,667 (Visitors 3,706, Students and exchange visitors 121, Temporary workers 216, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 5, Transit and crew 619, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Dec 2024: 4,506 (Visitors 3,782, Students and exchange visitors 109, Temporary workers 197, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 6, Transit and crew 412, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Jan 2025: 6,565 (Visitors 5,661, Students and exchange visitors 60, Temporary workers 139, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 6, Transit and crew 697, Other nonimmigrant classes 2)Feb 2025: 6,016 (Visitors 5,221, Students and exchange visitors 28, Temporary workers 89, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 8, Transit and crew 670, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Mar 2025: 5,775 (Visitors 4,629, Students and exchange visitors 105, Temporary workers 211, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 6, Transit and crew 824, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Apr 2025: 6,453 (Visitors 5,320, Students and exchange visitors 132, Temporary workers 173, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 7, Transit and crew 821, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)May 2025: 6,452 (Visitors 5,258, Students and exchange visitors 340, Temporary workers 183, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 5, Transit and crew 666, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Jun 2025: 4,209 (Visitors 3,649, Students and exchange visitors 238, Temporary workers 161, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 13, Transit and crew 148, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Jul 2025: 6,225 (Visitors 4,485, Students and exchange visitors 488, Temporary workers 204, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 4, Transit and crew 1,044, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Aug 2025: 6,068 (Visitors 4,806, Students and exchange visitors 200, Temporary workers 145, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 4, Transit and crew 913, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Sep 2025: 5,154 (Visitors 4,270, Students and exchange visitors 48, Temporary workers 142, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 6, Transit and crew 688, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)
Nonimmigrant visas issued at Dubai by month, stacked by broad class group.

VisitorsStudents and exchange visitorsTemporary workersDiplomatic, official and international organisationTransit and crewOther nonimmigrant classes

Groups follow the Department's visa symbols: visitors (B), students and exchange visitors (F, M, J), temporary workers (H, L, O, P, Q, E, R, TN, I), diplomatic and official (A, G, NATO), transit and crew (C, D), other. Hover a month for its counts. Each bar is one monthly report.

Compared with United Arab Emirates and the world, September 2025

Sep 2025DubaiAll 2 posts in United Arab EmiratesAll posts
Nonimmigrant visas issued5,1546,222823,557
Change on Sep 2024-15%—-11%
Immigrant visas issued044845,966
Visitors share82.8%—82.5%
Students and exchange visitors share0.9%—2.9%
Temporary workers share2.8%—9.4%
Diplomatic, official and international organisation share0.1%—2.1%
Transit and crew share13.3%—2.9%
Other nonimmigrant classes share0%—0.2%
B1/B2 next appointment12.5 months—median 1 month
F, M, J next appointment1.5 months—median under ½ month

All figures are from the September 2025 tables. The country column adds the posts located in United Arab Emirates (Abu Dhabi and Dubai) within that one month; it is not the count for nationals of United Arab Emirates, which is on the United Arab Emirates nationality page.

Visa classes issued, September 2025

ClassDescription (State Department)IssuedShareRank among posts
B1/B2Temporary visitor for business and pleasure4,24682.4%34 of 211
C1/DCombined transit and crewmember visa67313.1%5 of 171
H1BTemporary worker of distinguished merit and ability performing services other than as a registered nurse370.7%36 of 163
L1Intracompany transferee (executive, managerial, and specialized personnel continuing employment with international firm or corporation)340.7%40 of 144
L2Spouse or child of intracompany transferee310.6%33 of 133
F1Student in an academic or language training program260.5%64 of 184
B1Temporary visitor for business240.5%23 of 128
H4Spouse or child of H-1B/B1/C, H-2A/B, or H-3200.4%37 of 137
DCrewmember (sea or air)140.3%6 of 24
J1Exchange visitor90.2%132 of 194
F2Spouse or child of F170.1%29 of 104
A3Attendant, servant, or personal employee of A1 or A2, or immediate family50.1%4 of 19
E2Treaty investor, spouse or child50.1%40 of 68
J2Spouse or child of exchange visitor40.1%66 of 124
O1Person with extraordinary ability in sciences, arts, education, business or athletics40.1%65 of 132
P1Internationally recognized athlete or member of internationally recognized entertainment group40.1%70 of 110
IRepresentative of foreign information media, spouse and children30.1%69 of 119
M1Vocational student and other nonacademic student20%49 of 91
O2Person accompanying and assisting in the artistic or athletic performance by O-120%56 of 83
A2Other foreign government official or employee, or immediate family10%157 of 169
C1Alien in transit10%63 of 87
P3Artist or entertainer in a culturally unique program10%57 of 69
R1Alien in a religious occupation10%70 of 96

Ranks are among posts in the same month's table. Earlier months are linked from the month-by-month table below.

Seasonality

Jan93
Feb88
Mar109
Apr92
May100
Jun112
Jul97
Aug98
Sep105
Oct111
Nov101
Dec76
Which months are busiest at Dubai. Index over 7 complete calendar years; 100 is an average month, darker is busier.

Wait-time history

0298596202220232024202520264 Nov 2022: B1/B2 462 days; F/M/J 135; H/L/O/P/Q 2451 Dec 2022: B1/B2 449 days; F/M/J 128; H/L/O/P/Q 13317 Jan 2023: B1/B2 472 days; F/M/J 92; H/L/O/P/Q 1501 Feb 2023: B1/B2 498 days; F/M/J 78; H/L/O/P/Q 1336 Mar 2023: B1/B2 483 days; F/M/J 100; H/L/O/P/Q 12817 Apr 2023: B1/B2 596 days; F/M/J 102; H/L/O/P/Q 1009 Jun 2023: B1/B2 574 days; F/M/J 84; H/L/O/P/Q 5631 Jul 2023: B1/B2 585 days; F/M/J 45; H/L/O/P/Q 451 Aug 2023: B1/B2 585 days; F/M/J 45; H/L/O/P/Q 4520 Sep 2023: B1/B2 533 days; F/M/J 29; H/L/O/P/Q 5212 Oct 2023: B1/B2 458 days; F/M/J 15; H/L/O/P/Q 85 Nov 2023: B1/B2 466 days; F/M/J 16; H/L/O/P/Q 8517 Dec 2023: B1/B2 394 days; F/M/J 50; H/L/O/P/Q 566 Jan 2024: B1/B2 380 days; F/M/J 7; H/L/O/P/Q 81 Feb 2024: B1/B2 378 days; F/M/J 23; H/L/O/P/Q 456 Mar 2024: B1/B2 357 days; F/M/J 16; H/L/O/P/Q 469 Apr 2024: B1/B2 350 days; F/M/J 24; H/L/O/P/Q 438 May 2024: B1/B2 379 days; F/M/J 37; H/L/O/P/Q 5317 Jun 2024: B1/B2 352 days; F/M/J 59; H/L/O/P/Q —6 Jul 2024: B1/B2 365 days; F/M/J 50; H/L/O/P/Q 537 Aug 2024: B1/B2 379 days; F/M/J 30; H/L/O/P/Q 2214 Sep 2024: B1/B2 393 days; F/M/J 29; H/L/O/P/Q 312 Oct 2024: B1/B2 282 days; F/M/J 14; H/L/O/P/Q 3012 Nov 2024: B1/B2 289 days; F/M/J 14; H/L/O/P/Q 181 Dec 2024: B1/B2 351 days; F/M/J 14; H/L/O/P/Q 186 Jan 2025: B1/B2 284 days; F/M/J 22; H/L/O/P/Q 227 Feb 2025: B1/B2 284 days; F/M/J 22; H/L/O/P/Q 225 Mar 2025: B1/B2 284 days; F/M/J 22; H/L/O/P/Q 2216 Apr 2025: B1/B2 225 days; F/M/J 71; H/L/O/P/Q 321 May 2025: B1/B2 360 days; F/M/J 75; H/L/O/P/Q 304 Jun 2025: B1/B2 360 days; F/M/J 90; H/L/O/P/Q 02 Jul 2025: B1/B2 360 days; F/M/J 90; H/L/O/P/Q 03 Aug 2025: B1/B2 30 days; F/M/J 0; H/L/O/P/Q 07 Sep 2025: B1/B2 390 days; F/M/J 0; H/L/O/P/Q 03 Oct 2025: B1/B2 390 days; F/M/J 7; H/L/O/P/Q 71 Nov 2025: B1/B2 375 days; F/M/J 7; H/L/O/P/Q 72 Dec 2025: B1/B2 360 days; F/M/J 7; H/L/O/P/Q 76 Jan 2026: B1/B2 375 days; F/M/J 7; H/L/O/P/Q 78 Feb 2026: B1/B2 375 days; F/M/J 7; H/L/O/P/Q 77 Mar 2026: B1/B2 360 days; F/M/J 7; H/L/O/P/Q 74 Apr 2026: B1/B2 360 days; F/M/J 30; H/L/O/P/Q 3014 May 2026: B1/B2 375 days; F/M/J 60; H/L/O/P/Q 607 Jun 2026: B1/B2 420 days; F/M/J 45; H/L/O/P/Q 451 Jul 2026: B1/B2 375 days; F/M/J 45; H/L/O/P/Q 45

Visitor B1/B2Student F, M, JWorker H, L, O, P, Q

Next available appointment at Dubai over time. Days to the next available appointment as listed on each reading date (44 readings, 4 Nov 2022 to 1 Jul 2026). From 1 May 2025 the Department publishes the estimate in half-month steps; those are shown as 30 days per month.

Month by month

MonthNonimmigrantImmigrantvs same month prior year
Sep 20255,1540-15%
Aug 20256,0680+4%
Jul 20256,2250+20%
Jun 20254,2090-19%
May 20256,4520-13%
Apr 20256,4530+18%
Mar 20255,7750-23%
Feb 20256,0160-14%
Jan 20256,5650-3%
Dec 20244,5060+64%
Nov 20244,6670-2%
Oct 20246,5940+2%
Sep 20246,0860+42%
Aug 20245,82400%
Jul 20245,1960+10%
Jun 20245,1990+35%
May 20247,3990+62%
Apr 20245,4830+59%
Mar 20247,4740+42%
Feb 20246,9810+75%
Jan 20246,7710+50%
Dec 20232,7500-15%
Nov 20234,7720+9%
Oct 20236,4420+31%

One row per monthly report; the rows are not added together. Each month links to the post's class breakdown for that month. Global totals for any month: September 2025.

DubaiAbu Dhabi
Location of the U.S. post in Dubai.This post Other posts in the country Outlines: Natural Earth.

Other U.S. posts in United Arab Emirates

Questions and answers

How many visas did the U.S. post in Dubai issue last month?

5,154 nonimmigrant visas in September 2025, the latest month in the State Department's monthly issuance tables. In September 2024 the post issued 6,086 nonimmigrant visas.

What is the wait for a visitor visa interview in Dubai?

The Department's Global Visa Wait Times table, read on 1 Jul 2026, listed the next available B1/B2 interview appointment as 12.5 months away (over 6 months). The Department updates the table monthly and says new appointments are added regularly, so an applicant may get an appointment sooner.

What is the wait for a student visa interview in Dubai?

The next available F, M or J appointment was listed as 1.5 months away on 1 Jul 2026. Student appointments are scheduled separately from visitor appointments at most posts.

Which visa classes does Dubai issue most?

In September 2025: B1/B2 (4,246, 82.4%), C1/D (673, 13.1%), H1B (37, 0.7%), L1 (34, 0.7%) and L2 (31, 0.6%). 23 nonimmigrant classes appear in the post's table for the month.

Is visa volume at Dubai rising or falling?

September 2025: 5,154 nonimmigrant visas, down 15% on September 2024 (6,086). The month-by-month series on this page shows the path one month at a time; the Department notes that monthly reports are preliminary and subject to change and should not be added together.

How many visas does Dubai issue in a year?

The Department publishes annual totals separately, in its Report of the Visa Office, and says its monthly reports should not be aggregated, so this site shows no yearly figure for a post. The annual tables by nationality are on the nationality pages.

What does the issuance count for Dubai not tell you?

It is the number of visas issued, not the number of applications received or interviews held, and it says nothing about the outcome of any individual application. The Department publishes refusal rates only for B visas by nationality, not by post.

Where does this data come from?

The State Department's Bureau of Consular Affairs publishes monthly nonimmigrant and immigrant visa issuance tables by post and visa class, and a Global Visa Wait Times table. Issuances on this page run March 2017 to September 2025; wait times are read from the Department's table and kept as dated snapshots (44 readings for this post).

Provenance

Source: U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs. Monthly Nonimmigrant Visa Issuances by Post and Visa Class and Monthly Immigrant Visa Issuances by Post and Visa Class (latest NIV table, latest IV table), public domain; Global Visa Wait Times table, read on the dates shown. Issuance data through 30 Sep 2025; site generated 30 Sep 2026. Errors in processing are corrected at the next build; see corrections.