Planning a summer trip? With just one month left before the summer break ends, UAE residents are encountering major hurdles in securing visas for some destinations. The wait for a US visa, for instance, now exceeds a year. Yet, there are numerous countries that provide visas to UAE residents in just a few days, making them attractive options.
Travel experts note a rising trend among UAE residents favoring destinations in the Far East. "South Korea, Japan, Malaysia, and Vietnam are gaining popularity among UAE residents due to their straightforward visa processes. Japan has consistently been a top choice. Due to the surge in interest for 'the land of the rising sun', visa applications must be submitted through VFS starting August 1," explained Shamsheed CV, Senior Consultant for Outbound Travel at Wisefox Tourism.
Experts also point out that several travel destinations offer the simplest and swiftest visa application processes for UAE residents. "Georgia, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Egypt, Kyrgyzstan, Albania, Montenegro, and Oman provide arrival visas for certain nationalities in the UAE. Countries like Kazakhstan, Maldives, Mauritius, Thailand, Turkey, Seychelles, and Bosnia offer visa on arrival for certain nationalities in the UAE," stated Rashida Zahid, Vice President of operations at Musafir.com.
Regarding visa approvals, industry experts report that Schengen visas can take months to approve, potentially disrupting summer travel plans to European destinations. In contrast, visas for countries in the Far East might take between 3 to 10 days. "Malaysia and Vietnam grant visa approvals in about three working days, while Indonesia offers visa on arrival for some nationalities," noted Shamsheed.
In some countries such as Cambodia, Jordan, Kenya, Morocco, Saudi, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Vietnam, Russia, Singapore, and Australia, eligible nationalities can apply for an e-visa with processing times ranging from approximately 3-10 working days, according to Zahid.
While visas for most European countries are problematic this summer, some destinations offer a smoother process. "The Balkan countries are popular, but the visa processing time is still a concern. Conversely, appointments for European countries like Turkey and the UK are readily available," said Shamsheed.
For visa applications, essential documents include a passport, Emirates ID, and photos, although some countries also require a bank statement. Travel experts observe that beach destinations are less popular during the summer, with more interest in mountain landscapes. "The CIS countries, including Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan, remain popular due to their visa on-arrival policy," noted Shamsheed.
Industry executives have noticed a shift in travel preferences among UAE residents, with more individuals planning their itineraries independently rather than through travel agencies. This trend is especially prominent among younger travelers. "We've seen that many young people who want to travel prefer to create their own itineraries as they don't want to visit popular spots and are eager to explore new places," said Shamsheed.
