In order to ensure that your entry into the United Arab Emirates is without complications, make sure your passport will be valid for at least 90 days following the date of your departure. In addition, the UAE border authorities require that you have a blank page available for any necessary entry stamps. It is a good idea to have at least two blank pages, just in case.
You must check your flight itinerary; although the UAE does not require a visa, you may need to obtain a transit visa for any additional countries in which you will be stopping during your travels.
For a tourist or transit visa, a given traveller's family members will be allowed entry for the same amount of time under the same conditions as the traveller. For a traveller conducting business, accompanying business associates and representatives may also gain entry for up to 30 days.
In order to be allowed an extended stay of up to 6 months and/or the ability to leave and enter the United Arab Emirates multiple times, a traveller must obtain a multiple entry visa. U.S. citizens may apply for a multiple entry visa while in the UAE for a certain duration, depending upon the given sponsor of the traveller; this sponsor is required in order to obtain the visa and is usually an affiliated business or agency revolving around a strong business relationship and/or frequent travel to the UAE. This multiple entry visa allows for individual stays of no more than 6 months, with a maximum validity of 10 years.
