This summer, European destinations topped the list of preferred travel spots for UAE residents, closely followed by the United States. Data from The Visa Services in Dubai reveals that Europe accounted for 65% of all travel inquiries from the UAE in the second quarter of 2024, marking a 20% rise from the previous year. Popular European countries included Spain, Greece, Germany, Italy, France, Portugal, and Switzerland. The allure of cooler climates and major events like Euro 2024, the Paris Olympics, and Taylor Swift's Eras Tour fueled this demand. Processing times for Schengen visas typically range from 15 to 45 days, with a 2023 rejection rate of 22.44% and an approval rate of 77.56%. Visa durations usually span six months, though this varies based on various factors such as documentation and financial stability.
Outbound travel from the UAE surged during the summer holidays, leading to significant increases in airfares, sometimes doubling the original prices. The US secured a 25% share of travel requests, with Asia-Pacific countries such as Singapore, Australia, and China making up 15%. Anastasia Yanchenko, the commercial director of The Visa Services, noted that the UAE's diverse population necessitates visas for most nationalities traveling to Schengen countries and the USA, excluding Emiratis. The majority of applicants were Russians, followed by Indians, Filipinos, Egyptians, Jordanians, and South Africans, with a significant portion being families.
In 2023, single-entry visas were predominant, but 2024 has seen a shift towards longer durations, with 45% for 3-6 months, 30% for over a year, and 25% for single-entry travel. This year, travel remains the primary purpose for visas at 70%, followed by business, study, and medical reasons.
