We Couldn’t Fly to Dubai Because of a Visa: An Expensive Lesson from Our Trip

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There is one important lesson I learned from our family trip in 2023. No matter how knowledgeable or experienced the person arranging your tickets may be, checking the visa requirements is still your own responsibility.

Our mistake involved only one passport, but it changed our entire journey. We had to cancel our stay in Dubai, lost the money we had paid for our hotel and attraction tickets, paid a large fee to change our flights, and spent hours waiting at Düsseldorf and Dubai airports.

Quick Answer

We had to cancel our planned stopover in Dubai because I was travelling on an Indonesian passport and did not have the required UAE visa. Mas Bas, Caesar, and Milan had Dutch passports, so different entry rules applied to them.

Although we had successfully checked in online and received our boarding passes, my documents were checked again at Düsseldorf Airport. We changed our journey to an airside transit in Dubai and continued to Jakarta without passing through UAE immigration.

Our biggest lesson was to check the requirements for every passport separately. When a family travels with different passports.

Our Original Plan: Düsseldorf, Dubai, Then Jakarta

This story began when we planned our spring holiday in 2023, after international travel had started returning to normal following the Covid-19 pandemic.

Milan wanted to see the Burj Khalifa in Downtown Dubai. I had also wanted to visit it since the building officially opened on 4 January 2010.

Originally known as Burj Dubai, the Burj Khalifa was designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, with Adrian Smith as consulting design partner. The 828-metre building has a Y-shaped floor plan with three wings inspired by the Hymenocallis flower.

Milan wanted to see the shape of the building for himself. We had previously visited the Eiffel Tower, where the buildings and streets of Paris looked tiny from above. The Burj Khalifa is around two and a half times as tall as the Eiffel Tower, so we imagined the view would feel completely different.

Visitors cannot go up to the 163rd floor because it is not a public observation area. The visitor experiences include levels 124 and 125, followed by the SKY observation deck on level 148 at a height of 555 metres. The Lounge is located across levels 152 to 154, around 585 metres above the ground.

Besides visiting the Burj Khalifa, we planned to explore Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo inside Dubai Mall. The main tank can be seen from the public area of the mall, which means you can see part of the aquarium for free. However, we wanted to explore more, so we also bought tickets for the Aquarium Tunnel, Underwater Zoo, and Penguin Cove.

Paying for Everything in Advance

We planned to stay in Dubai for a few days. Mas Bas also had some work to do there. Afterwards, we would continue our journey to Jakarta.

All the travel arrangements were handled by a trusted member of Mas Bas’s staff, who had previously worked at a travel agency for around ten years. Our flights, hotel, and several attraction tickets had already been paid for because we were worried the attractions might sell out if we waited until we arrived.

Because of her experience in the travel industry, I trusted that everything had been checked. I did not personally look up the entry requirements for my own passport.

That turned out to be a costly mistake.

Stopped at the Airport Because One Passport Was Different

While I was still busy finishing the packing, Mas Bas told me that his staff had checked us in online. Our boarding passes had been issued and placed inside our travel folder.

There are two nationalities in our family. Mas Bas, Caesar, and Milan travel with Dutch passports, while I still use an Indonesian passport and have a Dutch residence permit.

At the check-in counter at Düsseldorf Airport, the staff member examined my passport several times. He looked at her computer, asked a colleague, and then checked everything again.

I immediately had a bad feeling.

I worked in the aviation industry in Indonesia for 12 years, so I recognised the gesture. It is the kind of behaviour you often see when airport staff suspect that something in a passenger’s documents needs to be checked more carefully.

He then asked whether I had a visa to enter Dubai.

I looked straight at Mas Bas because he was carrying all our documents in his folder. He calmly explained that we would only be staying for a few days and already had onward tickets to Jakarta.

However, the problem was not how long we planned to stay or whether we had tickets to leave the UAE. The problem was the entry requirements for the passport I was using.

Dutch passport holders are among the nationalities that can receive permission to enter the UAE upon arrival, subject to the current rules. Indonesian passport holders, on the other hand, generally need to arrange a visa before travelling. Having a Dutch residence permit does not automatically replace the visa requirement attached to an Indonesian passport.

A tourist visa for an Indonesian passport must be arranged and approved before departure.

Common visa to Dubai options include:

• A 30-day single-entry tourist visa, around US$90
• A 60-day single-entry tourist visa, around US$177
• A 48-hour transit visa, US$10
• A 96-hour transit visa, US$49

These are Emirates prices and additional processing fees may apply. If you travel with another airline, the prices and application process may be different.

The main requirements usually include:

• A passport valid for at least six months from the travel date
• A colour photograph
• A copy of the passport
• Return or onward flight tickets
• Proof of hotel accommodation
• A valid Dutch visa or residence permit

When flying with Emirates, eligible passengers may be able to apply after their tickets have been issued through the Manage Booking section. Processing usually takes around three to four working days, but it is always better to apply well in advance.

All of this meant that I could not travel as originally planned to enter Dubai and stay there.

How Did Online Check-in Still Work?

We were shocked as we stood in front of the check-in counter. Mas Bas was confused because our online check-in had been successful. My boarding pass had even been issued. His staff assumed there would not be a problem with my visa because the system had not rejected me during online check-in.

But online check-in is not a final decision confirming that a passenger meets every entry requirement for their destination.

The airline still needs to check passports, visas, residence permits, and supporting documents at the airport. If the documents do not meet the requirements, having an online boarding pass does not guarantee that a passenger will be allowed to fly.

Airlines can face consequences if they carry international passengers who do not have the correct permission to enter their destination. This is why documents may still be checked in person before baggage is accepted or before a passenger boards the aircraft.

At that moment, I felt careless and guilty towards Mas Bas and the children. Everything had appeared to be taken care of, but that was exactly why I had let my guard down and failed to check it properly myself.

A Stopover Is Not the Same as an Airside Transit

There was no way around it. We had to continue our journey without Dubai as the first stop on our trip. Mas Bas and the children did not want to visit Dubai without me.

Our original plan was a stopover. We would leave the airport, pass through immigration, stay in Dubai, visit the Burj Khalifa and Dubai Aquarium, and then return to the airport for our flight to Jakarta. To do that, every member of the family needed to meet the UAE entry requirements.

Once we cancelled that plan, our journey was changed to an airside transit. We would only change flights in Dubai without passing through immigration.

Transit requirements may vary depending on the airline, terminal, onward ticket, baggage arrangements, and whether a passenger needs to leave the international transit area. This is why saying you are “only in transit” is not always enough to determine whether you need a visa.

In our case, the connecting flight was part of the same Emirates journey and our luggage was checked through to Jakarta. We did not need to collect our bags or officially enter Dubai.

Changing Our Tickets Cost Almost as Much as Buying New Ones

The airport staff directed us to the customer service desk to find another flight. Fortunately, there were two Düsseldorf to Dubai flights that day with connections to Jakarta.

We managed to get seats on the last evening flight from Düsseldorf, but the cost of changing the tickets was almost the same as buying new ones.

The financial loss did not end there. We could not get a refund for the Dubai hotel or the attraction tickets we had already paid for.

The new schedule also meant that we would arrive in Jakarta much earlier than originally planned, so we suddenly needed to find a hotel there.

Fortunately, hotels can now be booked online from almost anywhere. We booked our accommodation in Jakarta while sitting in the waiting area at Düsseldorf Airport, waiting for our new tickets to be issued.

Waiting for Hours at Düsseldorf Airport

We had arrived according to the schedule of our original flight, so the wait for the replacement flight felt very long.

I still felt deeply disappointed. Plans that had taken time to organise changed within minutes, and we had already spent a considerable amount of money. There was nothing else we could do except wait and find somewhere to have dinner at the airport.

Our new flight was scheduled to leave Düsseldorf at around 9.15 pm and arrive in Dubai at approximately 6.20 am the following morning. The flight time was around seven hours and five minutes.

If, for any reason, you ever have to wait for a long time at Düsseldorf Airport, these facilities may help:

DUS Explore & Enjoy is located in the public shopping area on the departures level. It has digital games, photo spots, and several interactive activities. You do not need a boarding pass to use this area.

DUS Rhein Lounge and DUS Sky Lounge offer snacks, drinks, Wi-Fi, and a quieter place to sit. Prices and family packages can change, so check the official airport website before visiting.

Standard Wi-Fi is available free of charge throughout the terminal.

Restaurants, shops, ATMs, currency exchange services, and baby-changing facilities can be found in several parts of the terminal.

The SkyTrain connects the terminal to Düsseldorf Flughafen railway station. Going into the city centre only makes sense if you have a very long wait and enough time to return, pass through security, and reach your gate.

Because our ticket change had happened so suddenly, we decided to stay at the airport.

Meet Caesar and Milan on Nasi en Stamppot

Transit in Dubai Before Continuing to Jakarta

After arriving in Dubai, we had another wait before our flight to Jakarta. This time, however, the situation was different. We did not pass through immigration or leave the airport.

Our flight from Dubai was scheduled to depart at 10.50 am and arrive in Jakarta at around 10.25 pm. The Dubai to Jakarta flight took approximately eight hours and 35 minutes, with a transit time in Dubai of around four and a half hours.

Because the journey was booked on one ticket and our luggage was checked through to Jakarta, we did not need to collect our bags in Dubai.

Fortunately, Dubai International Airport is one of the most well-equipped airports for transit passengers.

If you have a long layover at DXB, there are several ways to pass the time:

• Zen Garden in Terminal 3: A small garden with fishponds and flowing water where you can sit quietly and take a break after a long flight.
• Children’s play areas: These are available in several parts of the terminal and can be useful when children are tired of sitting on planes and in waiting areas.
• Duty-free shops and shopping areas: DXB has a huge selection of shops that remain open 24 hours a day, selling everything from cosmetics to UAE souvenirs.
• Plenty of places to eat: You can choose from fast food, international dishes, and Middle Eastern food, which is helpful when your usual meal times have been disrupted by a changed flight.
• Free showers: These are available in Terminals 1 and 3 and can be refreshing after a long flight and an even longer day on the ground.
• Fast, free Wi-Fi: This allowed us to let our family know that we were fine, even though our travel plans had changed completely.

If you are considering leaving the airport during a long transit, the length of the layover is not the only thing you need to consider.

You should also check:

• Visa requirements for your passport
• Immigration processing times
• Transfers between terminals
• Travel time to and from the airport
• Security checks when you return
• Baggage arrangements
• The boarding time for your next flight

A seven or eight-hour transit does not always mean you have enough time to explore Dubai.

What We Learned from Our Visa Mistake

Since that experience, we have always checked the documents of every family member ourselves before travelling abroad.

1. Check Every Passport Separately

Visa requirements are based partly on the passport being used, not the nationality of someone’s partner or the nationality held by most members of the family.

Families travelling with different passports should never use one person’s entry requirements as the rule for everyone.

2. A Residence Permit Is Not a Passport

Having a Dutch residence permit does not automatically give me the same entry conditions as someone travelling with a Dutch passport.

A residence permit may be relevant to some applications, but visa requirements still depend on the rules of the destination country.

3. “It Has Been Arranged” Does Not Always Mean “It Has Been Checked”

Even an experienced travel agent or member of staff can miss one detail. Once the tickets have been issued, check the names, passports, document validity, visas, route, transit points, hotel bookings, and return or onward tickets yourself.

4. Online Check-in Is Not Immigration Approval

Receiving a boarding pass online does not prove that your visa and entry documents have been approved.

Documents may still be checked at the airport counter, at the gate, during transit, and by immigration authorities at your destination.

5. Know the Difference Between a Transit and a Stopover

Leaving the airport to stay in a hotel or explore the city means you must meet that country’s entry requirements.

An airside transit may not require a visa, but this depends on your passport, airline, terminal, baggage arrangements, and how your tickets have been booked.

6. Do Not Book Too Many Non-refundable Things Before Your Documents Are Ready

Booking early can reduce the risk of attraction tickets selling out. However, before paying for non-refundable hotels or activities, make sure that you can apply for the required visa and that there is enough time for it to be processed.

Whenever possible, choose bookings that can be changed or cancelled until your travel documents have been approved.

A Travel Checklist for Families

Before paying for an entire trip, check:

• Which passport each person will use
• The validity of every passport
• Visa requirements for the destination
• Visa or entry requirements for transit countries
• Whether luggage will be checked through to the final destination
• Whether you need to change terminals or airports
• Whether the transit requires you to pass through immigration
• Hotel confirmation and onward flight tickets
• Visa processing times
• Ticket change and cancellation conditions
• Hotel and attraction refund policies
• Travel insurance coverage and exclusions

The best sources for visa information are the destination country’s official government website, its embassy, or the airline that issued your ticket. Entry requirements can change, so an old travel article or social media post should never be your only source of information.

Frequently Asked Questions

Now We Always Check Everything Ourselves

There is truth in the saying that experience can be the most valuable lesson, although this one cost us both money and energy. We lost our chance to visit Dubai, paid to change our tickets, and had to book an extra hotel in Jakarta.

But one of our habits changed after that experience. We no longer rely completely on someone else to handle our documents, even when that person says they have years of experience. We always check everything again ourselves. Each passport is checked separately, including the requirements for our destination and any country where we will transit.

Travel agents can still be helpful. Online check-in also makes travelling easier. However, the final responsibility for making sure the passports, visas, and route are correct belongs to the people who are travelling.

If I had checked everything myself, our trip might have gone according to plan. Still, we believe that one day we will finally visit the Burj Khalifa at the right time and return with a much better story to share on this blog.

Thank you for following our journey. If you have ever had a similar experience, I would also like to hear your story in the comments below.

Work with Twinkle So Bright: Do you offer a service or product that could help families avoid travel problems like this? This article is open to relevant partnerships that add practical value to the story. View collaboration options

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