Malaysia Visa for UAE Residents: Visa-Free Passports, eVisa and MDAC

The short answer: Malaysia goes by your passport, not your UAE residence. Indian nationals can visit without a visa for up to 30 days until 31 December 2026, and Filipinos for up to 30 days. Emiratis need no visa either. Pakistani, Bangladeshi and Sri Lankan passport holders need a Malaysian eVisa before they fly. Whatever your passport, almost every visitor must fill in the free Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC) within three days before arrival.

Kuala Lumpur's Petronas Towers and street food, George Town's heritage streets in Penang and the beaches of Langkawi are about seven hours from Dubai, with Borneo's rainforest a domestic flight further. For many Indian families in the UAE, Malaysia is one of the easiest long-haul holidays, at least until the end of 2026.

Malaysia visa for UAE residents at a glance

Passport	What you need (October 2026)	Stay
India	No visa, until 31 December 2026	Up to 30 days
Philippines	No visa	Up to 30 days
UAE (Emirati)	No visa	Widely reported as up to 90 days
Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka	eVisa before travel	Up to 30 days
Egypt	Listed as visa-free by visa trackers; confirm before travel	Check with the embassy
All of the above	MDAC, free, within 3 days before arrival	-

Why your UAE residence does not change anything

Malaysia's visa exemptions are set by nationality. Holding a UAE residence visa does not give any extra entry rights, so an Indian living in Dubai gets exactly the same 30 days as an Indian flying from Mumbai, and a Pakistani resident needs the same eVisa as someone applying from Karachi.

Visa-free entry for Indians until 31 December 2026

Malaysia first let Indian nationals in without a visa on 1 December 2023. In December 2024, the Home Ministry extended the exemption to 31 December 2026, to cover Malaysia's ASEAN chairmanship and Visit Malaysia 2026, as Bernama, the New Straits Times and Malay Mail reported. The rules:

• Stays of up to 30 days
• For tourism, business visits, social visits or transit; work and study still need a visa
• The MDAC must still be filled in before arrival

As of 8 October 2026, Malaysia had not announced whether the exemption continues into 2027. If you are booking a trip for January 2027 or later, check before you pay, and we will update this guide when the ministry decides. Carry a return ticket and your hotel booking anyway; immigration officers can ask for them.

The Malaysia eVisa for Pakistani, Bangladeshi and Sri Lankan nationals

Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka are on Malaysia's list of countries whose nationals must get an eVisa for a social visit. You apply on the Immigration Department's official portal, malaysiavisa.imi.gov.my, before you travel; it cannot be obtained on arrival.

• Type: single-entry visa for a social visit, for stays of up to 30 days
• Documents: passport valid for at least six months, a photo, a return ticket, a hotel booking and recent bank statements; UAE residents should add their residence visa and Emirates ID
• Fee: reported as about RM 20 for the visa plus a processing charge of about RM 105, with a small card fee; the portal shows the exact total for your nationality
• Processing: usually a few working days; apply at least two weeks before you fly

Use only the government portal. Agency sites that look official charge extra for the same visa.

The Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC)

The MDAC replaced the paper arrival card. According to the Immigration Department of Malaysia, all foreign visitors must submit it online no earlier than three days before arrival and show the confirmation at immigration. The only exemptions are Singapore passport holders, diplomatic and official passports, Malaysian permanent residents and holders of Malaysian long-term passes, such as employment or student passes.

The MDAC is free. File it on the official site, imigresen-online.imi.gov.my/mdac/main. Malaysia's Immigration Department has warned travellers about fake MDAC websites that charge a fee.

Getting from the UAE to Malaysia

Emirates flies non-stop from Dubai to Kuala Lumpur in about 7 hours, and Batik Air Malaysia also serves the route. flydubai has flown daily from Dubai to Penang, continuing to Langkawi, since February 2024, also about seven hours. Schedules change, so check with the airline before you book.

Frequently asked questions

Do UAE residents need a visa for Malaysia?

It depends on your passport, not your residence. Indians, Filipinos and Emiratis can visit without a visa; Pakistani, Bangladeshi and Sri Lankan nationals need an eVisa. Almost everyone must file the free MDAC before arrival.

Can Indians in Dubai visit Malaysia without a visa?

Yes. Indian nationals can stay up to 30 days without a visa, for tourism, business visits or transit, until 31 December 2026. No extension had been announced by October 2026.

Do Pakistanis in the UAE need a visa for Malaysia?

Yes. Pakistani nationals must apply for a Malaysian eVisa online before travelling; there is no visa on arrival.

How much is the Malaysia eVisa?

Reported fees are about RM 20 for the visa plus a processing charge of about RM 105, with a small payment fee. The official portal shows the exact amount when you apply.

What is the MDAC and when do I submit it?

The Malaysia Digital Arrival Card is a free online arrival form. Submit it within the three days before you arrive, on the Immigration Department's official site.

How long can I stay in Malaysia?

Up to 30 days for Indian and Filipino nationals and on the eVisa. Emiratis are widely reported to get up to 90 days.

Planning a trip to Malaysia

A week covers Kuala Lumpur and Langkawi or Penang; add Singapore by road or air for a two-country trip. See Malaysia visa services for help with the eVisa, browse holiday packages, or talk to us about flights and hotels.

Related guides

• Singapore visa for UAE residents
• Thailand visa for UAE residents
• Vietnam visa for UAE residents
• Bali itinerary from Dubai

Last checked 8 October 2026 against the Immigration Department of Malaysia's MDAC guidance and Home Ministry announcements reported by Bernama, the New Straits Times and Malay Mail. The visa exemption for Indian nationals ends on 31 December 2026 unless Malaysia extends it; this guide is general information, not immigration advice. Confirm the rules for your passport with the Malaysian embassy or consulate before you travel.