I'm planning to fly to Dubai in September, but I haven't renewed my foreign passport yet, though I've already gotten an electronic passport. Can I travel there with just the electronic one, or do I definitely need a regular foreign passport? And do I need a visa at all if I have an electronic document?
An electronic passport won't work for flights - you absolutely need a travel passport. A visa for the UAE for Russian citizens can be obtained either on arrival or in advance through a tour operator, but only if you have a valid travel passport.
You won't be able to leave the country with just an electronic passport - airlines specifically require a biometric travel passport. An e-passport is a document for domestic matters, not international flights. So first you'll need to get a travel passport, and then you can plan your trip to Dubai.
As for the visa: Russians actually do get it on arrival in the UAE. It's usually an automatic tourist visa for 30 days that they stamp right in your passport when you enter. You don't need any advance approvals if you're coming in as a tourist. The exceptions are if you're planning to work, study, or you've got some complicated document situation.
My friend had a similar situation - she was redoing her passport in a rush before her trip. She got it done on an expedited basis, then flew to Dubai without any problems, and they stamped her visa right when she arrived. So the main thing is just to get a regular travel passport, and the rest will go smoothly.
Log into answer.
