- Currency
- New Taiwan Dollar (TWD)
The New Taiwan Dollar (TWD, ISO 4217 code TWD) is the official currency, issued under the authority of the Central Bank of the Republic of China (Taiwan). TWD is a managed-float currency (it is not pegged to any other currency); the Central Bank publishes the reference rate at cbc.gov.tw, which sat at approximately 31.55 TWD per 1 USD as of 15 May 2026. The AED–TWD cross-rate derives through the UAE Dirham’s own 3.6725 USD peg, giving roughly AED 1 ≈ TWD 8.59 at the May 2026 reference rate (this cross-rate moves with the managed-float and should be re-checked at the time of travel). UAE-issued Visa and Mastercard cards on UAE bank rails are accepted at major Taiwan hotels, department stores, malls, MRT ticketing machines and chain restaurants; contactless (Visa payWave / Mastercard Contactless) works at most card-accepting terminals. Taiwan is, however, materially CASH-PREFERRED at small vendors, night markets (Shilin, Raohe, Liuhe etc.), local family restaurants, temples and many independent shops outside the major chain footprint — carry a meaningful TWD cash float for day-to-day spending. USD cash is interchangeable at licensed banks and money changers at Taoyuan International Airport (TPE), Taipei Songshan (TSA) and central Taipei branches; AED is not commonly stocked at Taiwan money changers, so route through USD or use a card.
- eSIM available?
- Yes
Airalo eSIMs for Taiwan connect via the Taiwan Mobile network and start at USD 4.00 for 1 GB / 3 days; the mid-tier is USD 17.50 for 10 GB / 7 days, and the largest plan is USD 49.00 for 50 GB / 30 days (Airalo, May 2026). Local prepaid SIM alternatives from Chunghwa Telecom, Taiwan Mobile and Far EasTone are available at Taoyuan International Airport (TPE) arrivals; a passport is required for SIM registration under Taiwan telecommunications rules. UAE travelers transiting Taiwan before a Mainland China segment should note that Taiwan SIMs and eSIMs do not operate on Mainland China networks; a separate connectivity arrangement is required for any onward Mainland leg.
- UAE Embassy — general contact
- There is no UAE diplomatic mission in Taiwan. The UAE follows the One-China policy and maintains no embassy or consulate in Taipei. For consular emergencies, UAE residents should contact the UAE MOFA 24/7 assistance line on 800-44444 from inside the UAE or +971 800 44444 from Taiwan; MOFA routes consular emergencies based on the traveler’s specific situation. On the Taiwan side, the Commercial Office of Taipei, Dubai represents the interests of Taiwan in the UAE in the absence of formal diplomatic relations and functions as the de facto Taiwan representative office for UAE residents (it is the issuing office for pre-arrival Taiwan visas for nationalities not on the eVisa list). Address: Office M-01, M. Fl, Sharaf Travel Building, 153 Khalid Bin Al Waleed St., Umm Hurair 1, Bur Dubai, P.O. Box 3059. Service hours 08:00–12:00, Monday to Friday. Website: https://www.roc-taiwan.org/dxb_en/.
- UAE Embassy — repatriation
- For UAE-citizen consular emergencies and repatriation routing from Taiwan, call the UAE MOFA 24/7 assistance line on 800-44444 from inside the UAE or +971 800 44444 from Taiwan — MOFA selects the routing based on the traveler’s specific situation. Because there is no UAE diplomatic mission in Taiwan, there is no direct UAE consulate phone line to call locally. For Taiwan-side urgent consular contact (lost-passport notifications, in-country procedural questions), the Commercial Office of Taipei, Dubai publishes an emergency line on +971 50 645 3018 for matters relating to Taiwan travel from the UAE; in-country emergencies in Taiwan should be routed via the UAE MOFA hotline first, with Taiwan-domestic emergency services (police 110, ambulance 119) for immediate in-country incidents.
For UAE residents on non-Emirati passports
Taiwan entry requirements for UAE residents on non-Emirati passports depend on passport nationality, not on UAE residency. (Emirati passport holders apply for the Taiwan eVisa, NT$1,646 ≈ AED 191, 30-day stay non-extendable — see the main briefing above for details.) For non-Emirati UAE residents, Taiwan operates five entry routes whose eligibility is set per passport nationality: visa-exempt entry at the Taiwan border, the Taiwan eVisa (with general, conditional and restrictive variants), and pre-arrival visa via the Commercial Office of Taipei, Dubai. The Bureau of Consular Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of China (Taiwan) (boca.gov.tw) publishes the authoritative per-nationality lists; passport nationalities not covered below should verify their category at https://www.boca.gov.tw before booking.
Visa-exempt entry at the Taiwan border — 90 days. British (UK), American (United States), Canadian and Australian passport holders enter Taiwan visa-free for up to 90 days without prior application; just arrive at Taoyuan International Airport (TPE) or another point of entry with a passport valid at least 6 months from the date of entry, a confirmed return or onward ticket, and proof of accommodation or local host details.
Visa-exempt entry at the Taiwan border — 14 days under a TEMPORARY program. Filipino passport holders are visa-exempt for 14 days under a temporary program valid through 31 July 2026; travelers booking Taiwan trips for arrival after that date should verify the current Taiwan visa policy via boca.gov.tw before booking, as the temporary window may not be extended. Standard border conditions (6-month passport validity, return ticket, accommodation proof) apply.
Taiwan eVisa with conditional eligibility — Indian passport holders. Indian passport holders may apply for a Taiwan eVisa, but eligibility is conditional: the eVisa is available for group tourism arranged via a Taiwan-authorized travel agency, OR for business travel with a sponsoring entity in Taiwan; an individual tourist visit by independent application is NOT eligible under the eVisa route. Indian travelers in either eligible category apply online via https://visawebapp.boca.gov.tw/BOCA_EVISA/MRV04FORM.do; standard eVisa terms are a 30-day stay (non-extendable) and the standard fee schedule. Indian travelers planning an individual tourist visit should apply for a pre-arrival visitor visa via the Commercial Office of Taipei, Dubai (address and hours below) rather than the eVisa route.
Taiwan eVisa with restrictive eligibility — Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Sri Lankan and Nepalese passport holders. Passport holders in these four nationalities may apply for a Taiwan eVisa only for business purposes and only with a sponsoring entity in Taiwan; tourist travel via the eVisa route is not available. Applications are submitted online via https://visawebapp.boca.gov.tw/BOCA_EVISA/MRV04FORM.do with supporting documentation from the sponsoring Taiwan-based entity. Standard eVisa terms apply (30-day stay, non-extendable). Travelers in these nationalities planning non-business travel should consult the Commercial Office of Taipei, Dubai for the appropriate pre-arrival visa category.
Pre-arrival visa via the Commercial Office of Taipei, Dubai — Egyptian and Jordanian passport holders. Egyptian and Jordanian passport holders are not on the Taiwan eVisa list and must apply for a pre-arrival visa via the Commercial Office of Taipei, Dubai, which represents the interests of Taiwan in the UAE in the absence of formal diplomatic relations and functions as the de facto Taiwan representative office for UAE residents. Address: Office M-01, M. Fl, Sharaf Travel Building, 153 Khalid Bin Al Waleed St., Umm Hurair 1, Bur Dubai, P.O. Box 3059. Service hours 08:00–12:00, Monday to Friday. Website: https://www.roc-taiwan.org/dxb_en/. Standard supporting documents typically include a passport valid at least 6 months beyond intended entry, a recent passport-style photograph, proof of UAE residency (Emirates ID + residence visa), a confirmed return or onward ticket, accommodation or host details in Taiwan, and the completed application form provided by the Commercial Office; applicants should confirm the current requirements and fee schedule directly with the office before submitting.
Other passport nationalities not listed above should consult the Bureau of Consular Affairs lists at https://www.boca.gov.tw before booking travel. The boca.gov.tw site is the authoritative reference for visa-exempt nationality coverage, eVisa eligibility (including gratis-eVisa exemptions for Bosnia, Colombia, Haiti, Mauritius, Montenegro, Panama, Peru and Türkiye where the eVisa is free of charge), pre-arrival visa categories and current fee schedules.