As Eid Al-Adha approaches, UAE residents are encountering significant challenges in planning their holidays due to visa shortages and increased travel costs. The holiday, spanning 27 to 29 May, offers up to nine days off for some, prompting many to plan trips abroad. However, a surge in demand has left Schengen visa appointments fully booked until August, according to Alena Iakina, founder of visarun.ai.
With VFS and BLS centres in Dubai overwhelmed, those who have not yet secured a visa face the choice of paying extra for priority slots or altering their travel plans. As a result, destinations offering visa-on-arrival, such as Georgia, Azerbaijan, Thailand, and Malaysia, are seeing a spike in demand. Iakina notes that real-time booking data reflects this shift, with certain routes experiencing significant increases in interest.
Additionally, the ongoing Strait of Hormuz crisis has led to flight rerouting, further complicating travel plans. Rising aviation fuel costs are also prompting travellers to consider alternatives to expensive short-haul flights, opting instead for domestic or regional ground transport.
For those still hoping to visit Europe in July or August, the window to apply for summer visas is closing rapidly. Iakina advises that immediate action is necessary to keep travel plans on track, as options are dwindling. Travellers are urged to act within the next 48 to 72 hours to secure their plans amidst these disruptions
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