Gulf News notes that during the recent winter travel season, there was a spike in the number of UAE and GCC citizens traveling to Europe for the Christmas and New Year holidays, according to EU Helpers.
United Arab Emirates passport holders are exempt from the need for a visa, however foreign nationals residing in the nation are still need to apply for one in order to enter Schengen countries.
Travelers were frequently deterred by the fact that Schengen visa appointments from October to the end of December could take up to one or two months to process.
Since these travelers have previously indicated an interest in visiting Europe, European embassies in the United Arab Emirates have already opened up booking slots, and visas can be completed in less than two weeks.
Officials Encourage Early Reservation
Even with the faster visa processing timelines, UAE citizens should schedule their appointments well in advance to avoid any delays, says Monaz Billimoria, Regional Head at VFS Global. This is especially important during peak travel seasons.
According to the regional head of VFS Global, there was a 12% increase in visa applications in 2023 over 2019. Applications for visas increased exponentially by 145% between 2022 and 2023.
Furthermore, despite a 22% increase in travel costs, Kristi Gole, Executive Vice-President of Strategy at GHA, stated that Europe will still be the most popular destination for UAE travelers in 2024. Travelers are prepared to spend more for the greatest experiences, and expectations for 2024 are high.
World Trips reports that, on average, travelers to Europe spent €2,602 in 2022 compared to €2,326 in 2022.
Flight Costs Drop Although Airlines Display Robust Competitive Measures
Apart from the simplified visa application process, the cost of flights to several European destinations has decreased to less than €276. Travelers from the UAE head to Germany, Spain, Switzerland, Italy, France, and other countries in April. The demand for travel to Europe increased by 40–50% just last year, even outpacing levels in 2019.
The Spanish Tourism Office's director in Abu Dhabi, Daniel Rosado, noted the rise in demand.
However, competition among airlines has increased for primary routes. For instance, Wizz Air charges €131 for the economy cost on the Dubai-Paris route, which is planned to run from January 10 to January 24. Emirates charges €248. These were about €414, a month in December.