My Ukrainian gf and I went to Dubai recently. We choose it as a step in a "visa ladder" towards a tourist visa to Canada next year. Here are the details for those who are interested.
-visas can be sponsored by resident workers in Dubai
-visa can be sponsored by a hotel, or tour company
We stayed at the moevenpick jumeirah beach ($250 a night for a great room, booked via their website, a fantastic value and experience), and they arranged her visa. They required the following:
1. $140 processing fee
2. possible $1400 refundable security deposit
3. colour scan of passport and visa photo
4. completed 1 page application form
They did the whole thing by email, and sent the visa by email so it was very convenient. It took 5 business days, and they didn't charge us the security deposit.
I'll note that my gf has a credit card in her name (I added her as a second card to one of my accounts). We used that card (which is in her name), and I don't know if it would be ok if the card wasn't in her name.
I read some websites which suggested she should have $1000 cash when she arrived, in case asked by the customs offer. But they didn't ask, and everything went fine.
The visa was valid for Dubai, and also nearby Sharjah and Abu Dhabi (3 of the 7 emirates). She flew into Sharjah (15 miles away), and had no problems.
There are direct flights from Kiev to Dubai(or Sharjah) on Ukraine Intl, Aerosvit and Air Arabia. Note that the latter requires that the credit card holder be one of the travelers on the flight.
It is also possible to get a visa from a company called South Travels (
http://www.southtravels.com/middleeast/uae/visa.html). They require that you book a hotel from them, and they are more expensive than what you can find easily elsewhere. However, one option is to book their cheapest hotel @ $50 a night for 3 nights (the minimum), and then just stay somewhere else (the visa is good for 14 days). They also charge the same $140 fee, and reserve the right to put a refundable $1400 security deposit on the card.
One note, we had planned on staying at the Atlantis, but discovered at the last moment that they won't provide the visa invite for a Ukraine woman who is not accompanied by her husband or parents (I'll leave it to you to guess the unfortunate reason why they might have put on that restriction...). Anyways, my point is make sure you contact any hotel and clarify the hotels policies, before you make any booking or flight plans.
