Foreign residents in the United Arab Emirates planning trips to Europe will now have cheaper airfares and shorter Schengen visa processing times, with wait times now averaging two weeks or less.
According to Gulf News, the recent winter travel season saw a surge in UAE and GCC residents heading to European holiday destinations during the Christmas and New Year holidays.
Passport holders of the United Arab Emirates are exempted from visa requirements, but that does not apply to foreigners who live in the country, as they have to apply for a visa in order to travel to Schengen countries.
However, Schengen visa appointments from October to the end of December would take up to one or two months to be processed, which often discouraged travellers.
Now, European embassies in the UAE have opened up booking slots, and visas can be processed in less than two weeks, which further enables these travellers to make plans to visit Europe, as they have already expressed interest.
Demand is expected to spike in April during the Eid holidays.
Authorities Recommend Early Booking
Despite the improved visa processing times, Monaz Billimoria, Regional Head at VFS Global, suggests that UAE residents should book their visa processing appointments well in advance to avoid potential delays, especially during busy travel seasons.
The Regional Head at VFS Global reported a 12 per cent growth in visa applications in 2023 compared to 2019. Between 2021-23, there was an exponential 145 per cent increase in visa applications.
In addition, Kristi Gole, Executive Vice-President of Strategy at GHA, noted that Europe remains the top choice for UAE travellers in 2024, despite a 22 per cent increase in travel expenses. Travellers are willing to pay premium prices for the best experiences, and the optimism for a strong year in 2024 prevails.
Travel is back on all fronts, with every region thriving, and despite disruptions in certain markets, we are optimistic for another strong year in 2024.
On average, according to World Trips, travellers spent €2,602 during their European travels last year compared to €2,326 in 2022.
Airfares Take a Plunge While Airlines Show Strong Competitive Indicators
In addition to the streamlined visa process, airfares to various European cities have dropped to under €276. Spain, Switzerland, Italy, France, and Germany are the main destinations for UAE travellers in April. Last year alone, travel demand to Europe surged by 40-50 per cent, even surpassing 2019 levels.
Daniel Rosado, Director of the Spanish Tourism Office in Abu Dhabi, pointed out the growth in demand.
Projected seats from the UAE for Spain’s winter campaign increased by 7.9 per cent, searches from the UAE to Spain surged by 27 per cent, and airline bookings by 29.1 per cent.
On the other hand, airlines have become more competitive for main routes. For example, the economy fares for the Dubai-Paris route, scheduled between January 10 and January 24, vary from €131 by Wizz Air and €248 (Emirates). In December, those cost around €414.
