Eu’s Long Schengen Visa Wait Times Lead Uae Residents To Shift And Make New Holiday Plans Elsewhere

Published on August 11, 2025 |

Increasingly, UAE residents are giving up connected their summertime trips to Europe because of infuriating delays successful getting Schengen visa appointments. Although Europe is simply a favourite recreation destination, nan agelong visa processing times and uncertain assignment schedules person made galore visitors research different picnic possibilities successful Asian and African nations.

The delays person been particularly keenly felt by travelers attempting to put a Schengen visa to recreation to celebrated tourer spots specified arsenic France, Germany, and Italy. Even aft initiating nan exertion process arsenic early arsenic January 2025, galore UAE residents person had to hold months, pinch assignment times successful short proviso and often snatched up nan infinitesimal they are available.

Frustration pinch nan Visa Appointment System

The frustration is palpable among travelers for illustration Cherry Pachisia, a Dubai resident who has been trying for months to unafraid a visa assignment to Europe. Despite her efforts, she was incapable to find a slot for herself and her family, prompting them to rethink their recreation plans. “We dropped Europe arsenic an action for a holiday, it’s conscionable not worthy it trying to conflict for a visa for illustration this,” Pachisia said, explaining really her family decided to sojourn Kenya instead.

For those incapable to unafraid appointments connected their own, galore turned to travel agencies, paying betwixt Dh300 and Dh2,500 for assistance successful securing a Schengen visa appointment. However, this process adds an further furniture of uncertainty, arsenic travelers must often motion agreements stating that they will judge immoderate disposable appointment slot successful immoderate European country, sloppy of their preferred destination.

The Impact of Prolonged Wait Times connected Travelers

The Schengen visa system has besides caused important stress for travelers who request nan visa for purposes beyond leisure. For example, athletes for illustration Jad, a triathlete based successful Dubai, person had to attraction connected securing visas alternatively of preparing for events. “It was rather disheartening because I build and train for much than a year. Normally, I person bid of mind because my Schengen visa is for a twelvemonth minimum. The rumor is location are nary appointments,” Jad shared.

He expressed vexation astatine having received a 15-day visa, which severely limits his information successful aggregate events. “I can’t moreover spell to training camps because I request to scheme truthful acold successful advance, it’s ridiculous,” he said. Many different athletes look akin hurdles, incapable to be competitions aliases family events successful Europe owed to nan limitations connected their visa duration.

VFS Global’s Role and Public Discontent

VFS Global, nan statement responsible for processing Schengen visa applications successful nan UAE, has reiterated that it does not power nan readiness of appointments aliases nan visa processing timelines. According to Monaz Billimoria, location caput astatine VFS Global, appointments are released by nan respective embassies and consulates based connected availability, while visa decisions are made connected a case-by-case basis.

She urged travelers to beware of fraudulent third-party entities that committedness faster appointments for a fee, adding, “VFS Global does not activity pinch immoderate agents for assignment bookings. Appointments are disposable to each connected a first-come, first-served basis.”

Shifting Focus: New Destinations for UAE Travelers

In nan look of these challenges, galore travelers are opting for alternatives to Europe. Bali, Indonesia, and Dubai are progressively celebrated choices for UAE residents, offering less restrictive visa requirements and convenient recreation options. For instance, South African teacher P Anderson shared how, aft months of trying for a visa to Europe, she opted for a picnic successful Bali this year, choosing a destination pinch easier visa access.

In summation to Bali, Kenya has besides emerged arsenic a apical destination for travelers who had initially planned trips to Europe. The easiness of securing a visa for these destinations, on pinch affordable recreation options, has made them charismatic alternatives for UAE residents looking for hassle-free vacations.

The UAE Government’s Efforts to Address Visa Issues

While nan existent business has disappointment many, nan UAE government is expected to research ways to reside nan visa assignment backlog. However, it remains unclear whether location will beryllium immoderate contiguous changes to nan Schengen visa process successful nan coming months. The ongoing delays person besides raised questions astir nan effectiveness of nan Schengen visa system and whether it tin accommodate nan increasing request for recreation to Europe.

Conclusion: A Shift successful Travel Patterns and Future Outlook

These persisting delays successful nan Schengen visa exertion are causing galore UAE residents to rethink their vacation plans, choosing Asian and African destinations complete those successful Europe. This is grounds of expanding request for recreation pinch less restrictions, particularly arsenic visitors activity destinations pinch less strict visa requirements. While Europe continues to beryllium a premier destination for most, nan visa shortage is paving nan measurement for different destinations pinch countries specified arsenic Bali, Kenya, and Indonesia witnessing an summation successful visitors from nan UAE.