No Schengen Visa Slots Available in UAE Before Mid-August, Agents Report
Schengen Visa Appointments in UAE Nearly Fully Booked Until Mid-August Amid Surge in Applications
Foreign residents in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are facing severe challenges securing Schengen visa appointments, as most slots are fully booked for the next two months, according to travel agents.
While Greece has limited availability, Subair Thekepurathvalappil, Senior Manager at Wisefox Tourism, told Khaleej Times that even those few slots are nearly impossible to secure due to overwhelming demand.
“There are no appointments for any country at the moment. Only a few limited slots are available for Greece in the third week of July, but even those are hard to get. With the current delays, the summer holidays will be over by the time people get their visas,”
— Subair Thekepurathvalappil, Wisefox Tourism
Italy and France Most in Demand Among UAE-Based Applicants
Travel agents report that Italy and France are the top choices for Schengen visa applicants from the UAE, with consular services in both countries receiving a high volume of applications. While Scandinavian countries have more appointment availability, their relatively low popularity among summer travelers results in fewer bookings.
Due to surging demand, many EU consulates are experiencing delays in visa processing, prompting experts to recommend that applicants submit their requests well in advance or consider alternative travel destinations.
Over 260,000 Schengen Visa Applications Filed by UAE Foreign Residents in 2024
While UAE nationals enjoy visa-free access to the Schengen Area, foreign residents in the UAE must apply for visas if their home countries don’t have a visa waiver agreement with the EU.
According to SchengenVisaInfo, 260,229 Schengen visa applications were filed by foreign residents in the UAE in 2024. Of those, 196,109 were approved, while 61,730 were denied.
The top three Schengen countries that issued the most visas to UAE foreign residents in 2024 were:
Germany: 32,956 applications received | 23,399 visas granted
Netherlands: 29,473 applications received | 22,427 visas granted
France: 28,778 applications received | 23,093 visas granted
As delays persist and appointment slots remain scarce, applicants are urged to plan well ahead of peak travel seasons to avoid disruptions to their travel plans.
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