Schengen visa applications from the UAE have surged by 20% this summer, driven by the unbeatable combination of the Paris Olympics and Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour. After all, who could resist blending sports, sightseeing, and singing along to iconic hits?
Schengen visa applications from the UAE saw a 20% increase in the second quarter of 2024.
New data from The Visa Services, a Dubai-based visa expert, reveals a 20% year-over-year surge in Schengen visa applications from UAE residents in Q2 2024. Europe continues to be a top travel destination, accounting for 65% of all travel requests processed by The Visa Services.
This spike is occurring right in the middle of peak travel season, driven largely by Europe’s fantastic weather and major events like EURO 2024, the Paris Olympics, and, of course, Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour. Fans can’t resist traveling abroad to see TayTay live! According to The Visa Services, summer is when visa requests hit their peak as people combine vacations with these exciting events. Hot destinations include Spain, Greece, Germany, Italy, France, Portugal, and Switzerland. Europe better brace itself for a wave of enthusiastic UAE travelers, from sports enthusiasts to Swifties!
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Is it hard to snag a Schengen visa?
While most Schengen visas are processed within 15 days, some countries can take up to 45 days. In 2023, UAE residents faced a 22.44% rejection rate, but 77.56% received approval. Last year, 74% of visas were single-entry, and 21% allowed for 3-6 months of multiple entries. Fast forward to 2024, and the trend has shifted: 45% of visas are now for 3-6 months, 30% are valid for over a year, and only 25% are for single trips. This year, 70% of visas are for travel (because who doesn’t love a great vacation?), 20% are for business (mixing work with pleasure!), 7% are for study (smart choices), and 3% are for medical reasons (stay healthy!).
For those who were lucky enough… (not that we’re envious or anything)
Data reveals that during this period, the majority of applicants were Russians (35%), followed by Indians (23%), Filipinos (16%), Egyptians (7%), Jordanians (6%), and South Africans.
