UAE residents planning trips for the upcoming National Day holiday face Schengen visa appointment waiting times ranging from 45 days to two months, according to travel agencies cited by Khaleej Times. Because the National Day break falls on a Wednesday and the official duration has not yet been announced, some travellers are delaying bookings or redirecting travel plans toward countries with faster entry requirements.
Subair Thekepurathvalappil, senior manager at Wise Fox Tourism, stated that extended Schengen wait times are prompting residents to look eastwards toward countries with simpler visa procedures. He cited rising interest in Vietnam and other Southeast Asian destinations, as well as Sri Lanka, Montenegro, and the Seychelles.
Bharath Aidasani, managing partner at Pluto Travels, reported that travellers are seeking destinations where visa applications do not take long. Alongside strong demand for Georgia, Armenia, and Thailand, he noted that China, Malaysia, and Indonesia are being considered by UAE travellers seeking visas that can be processed within a few days.
Travel companies have started marketing holiday packages ahead of the official holiday date confirmation. Operator Holiday Factory listed packages running mainly from late November to early December with stays from three to six nights, priced from Dh2,799, covering destinations such as Georgia, Armenia, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Türkiye, Thailand, Albania, and the Maldives.
Travel agents noted that enquiries for short winter getaways are rising, and bookings are expected to surge once the UAE government officially announces the exact duration of the National Day public holiday.
Sources
- Khaleej Times · 2026-10-11
