Korean Embassy Dubai: Location, Hours & Appointment Guide

The Embassy of the Republic of Korea in the UAE is situated in the Al Mushrif district of Abu Dhabi. This is the only Korean diplomatic mission in the country and it serves all seven emirates. If you search for "Korean Embassy Dubai" online, every result will redirect you here because no separate consular office exists in Dubai.

The embassy building is located at Plot 35, Sector W-59, Zone 1, Al Mushrif, Abu Dhabi. The nearest landmarks are the Al Mushrif Mall and Abu Dhabi International Private Academy. If you are driving from Dubai, take the E11 Sheikh Zayed Road towards Abu Dhabi, exit onto Karamah Street (Street 24), and the embassy is in the residential area south of Al Karamah Street near Delma Street.

Getting to the Embassy from Dubai takes approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes by car via the E11 highway. If you prefer public transport, you can take an intercity bus from Dubai to Abu Dhabi Central Bus Station and then a taxi to the embassy, though this route takes closer to 2 to 2.5 hours each way. For Dubai residents who want to avoid the trip entirely, OraVisa offers a full on-your-behalf submission service — we handle the drive, the queue, and the paperwork so you do not have to.

The Korean Embassy follows a Sunday-to-Thursday working week in line with the UAE schedule. Visa application submission and passport collection have separate time slots, so it is important to plan your visit correctly. Walk-in applications are generally accepted during visa submission hours, but booking an appointment in advance is strongly recommended, especially during peak travel seasons.

To book an appointment, contact the embassy by phone at +971 2 443 4344 or by email at koremb-ae@mofa.go.kr. State your nationality, the type of service you need, and your preferred date. The embassy typically responds within one to two working days. During busy periods such as summer holiday season or around Korean public holidays, slots fill up quickly, so book at least one to two weeks in advance.

The Embassy closes on all Korean public holidays in addition to UAE public holidays. Key Korean holidays that affect services include Seollal (Korean Lunar New Year, usually January or February), Chuseok (Korean Harvest Festival, usually September or October), and Korean National Foundation Day on 3 October. UAE holidays such as Eid Al Fitr, Eid Al Adha, and UAE National Day on 2 December also close the Embassy. A combined holiday calendar means the Embassy may have more closure days than you expect, so always check before planning your visit.

Because the Korean Embassy in Abu Dhabi is the sole diplomatic mission in the UAE, it performs every consular function that would otherwise be split between an embassy and a consulate. Some countries maintain a separate consulate in Dubai for convenience, but South Korea does not. Below is a comparison of typical embassy versus consulate services to clarify what the Abu Dhabi Embassy handles.

For Dubai residents, the most frequently used services are tourist visa applications (C-3 visa), document legalisation for Korean business dealings, and attestation of personal documents such as marriage certificates or educational qualifications. The Embassy also handles long-term visa categories including work visas (E-series), student visas (D-2), and family reunion visas (F-series), though these require additional documentation and may have longer processing times.

Document legalisation is the second most common reason Dubai residents visit the Korean Embassy. If you are doing business with a Korean company or transferring documents for use in South Korea, the Embassy can authenticate UAE-issued documents. This process typically takes 3 to 5 working days and requires the documents to be first attested by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Arriving at the Korean Embassy fully prepared saves you from a wasted trip. Incomplete applications are the number one reason applicants have to return for a second visit. The requirements vary depending on the service you need, but the checklist below covers the essentials for a tourist visa application, which is the most common reason Dubai residents visit the Embassy.

1. 1Original passport with at least 6 months validity and a minimum of 2 blank pages
2. 2Photocopy of your passport bio page and the page showing your UAE residence visa
3. 3Original Emirates ID (both sides) plus a photocopy
4. 4Completed Korean visa application form (download from overseas.mofa.go.kr/ae-en)
5. 5One recent passport photograph (3.5 cm x 4.5 cm, white background, taken within 6 months)
6. 6Bank statement for the last 3 months from a UAE bank showing sufficient funds (minimum AED 15,000 recommended)
7. 7Employment letter on company letterhead stating your position, salary, and approved leave dates
8. 8Round-trip flight reservation to South Korea
9. 9Hotel booking confirmation or invitation letter if staying with a host in South Korea
10. 10Visa fee in the exact amount (check current fees with the Embassy, as payment is typically by bank draft or card)

If you are self-employed, bring your UAE trade licence, company bank statement for 3 months, and a letter explaining your travel purpose on your company letterhead. Students should provide an enrolment letter from their UAE institution and a bank statement from their sponsor.

For parking, the Embassy has limited visitor parking available on-site. Additional street parking is available in the surrounding Al Mushrif residential streets. If visiting during busy hours, arrive early to secure a spot. The Embassy area does not have a paid parking zone, but spaces fill up quickly on Sunday and Monday mornings.

The Korean Embassy accepts postal visa submissions from residents who cannot travel to Abu Dhabi in person. This is particularly useful for Dubai, Sharjah, and Northern Emirates residents who would otherwise face a 3-hour round trip. To submit by post, prepare your complete application pack and send it via a tracked courier service such as Aramex or DHL to the Embassy address. Include a prepaid return envelope with tracking so the Embassy can send your passport back after processing.

Postal submissions follow the same processing timeline as in-person applications, typically 5 to 7 working days. However, you must factor in courier transit time both ways, which adds an additional 2 to 4 days to the total turnaround. The Embassy will contact you by phone or email if any documents are missing, but this can cause significant delays, so double-check everything before posting.

For a stress-free experience, OraVisa offers a comprehensive on-your-behalf submission service for Korean visa applications. Our team in Dubai handles the entire process: we review your documents for completeness and accuracy, drive to the Korean Embassy in Abu Dhabi, submit your application in person, track the processing status, and collect your passport once the visa is issued. This eliminates the need for you to take time off work, navigate the Abu Dhabi trip, or worry about missing documents.

• Full document review and pre-check before submission to prevent rejections
• In-person submission at the Korean Embassy in Abu Dhabi on your behalf
• Real-time status updates throughout the processing period
• Passport collection and secure return delivery to your Dubai address
• Assistance with document legalisation and attestation if required