Dubai: Complex visa procedures for destinations outside the UAE and limited appointment availability are reshaping residents’ travel priorities, with ease of entry and processing times becoming increasingly influential when choosing holiday destinations.
Waiting up to two months for appointments, delays in decisions and visa rejections have prompted some travellers to change flight and hotel bookings, while others have abandoned their original destinations in favour of alternatives with simpler entry procedures.
The 2026 World Traveler Survey, published by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), found that 43% of travellers in the Middle East had refrained from visiting a destination because of immigration requirements. Those who abandoned trips primarily cited the complexity of the procedures.
Travel and tourism industry officials said ease of obtaining a visa has become a significant factor in travel decisions. The shift is not simply towards cheaper destinations, they said, but towards places that offer easier access and greater certainty for advance planning.
Visa complications are redrawing the travel map for a broad segment of customers. Competitive prices alone are no longer enough to secure bookings, with travellers increasingly considering the flexibility of entry requirements and the time needed to complete visa procedures.
Destinations offering e-visas, simplified visa procedures or visas on arrival are becoming more attractive, with some Asian destinations benefiting from demand that might previously have gone elsewhere.
Customer opinions
Bushra Al-Sayed said she had to wait about two months for an appointment to apply for a visa.
“This is a very long time when a person has made a travel plan and set a date for their holiday,” she said.
“For me, waiting this long makes planning the trip more difficult, especially since there are other bookings and arrangements related to the trip.”
She eventually had to change her flight and hotel dates after receiving the visa.
Abu Salim said he and his wife had planned to travel to a European destination and were preparing to apply for visas. As the application date approached, however, he became concerned about how long the process might take and whether they would receive their visas before travelling.
“I finally decided not to proceed with the visa procedures, cancel the appointment and choose another tourist destination that we could plan more clearly, instead of going through visa procedures that might take a long time,” he said.
Hanadi Suleiman said she waited about 40 days for an appointment, while a decision on her application for a family visit took 30 working days.
“This period is not short, especially when the purpose of the trip is to visit family members, because such visits are linked to family appointments and arrangements, and it may be difficult to change or postpone them,” she said.
Her application was rejected, forcing her to cancel all her bookings.
Suleiman said clear procedures and defined response times would help travellers plan their trips more effectively.
Amjad Ibrahim said he waited about two months for his visa, describing it as a relatively long period for someone trying to arrange a holiday and make bookings in advance. He added that visa applications for some members of his group were rejected.
Ibrahim said ease of obtaining a visa had become an important consideration when choosing a destination. Rather than selecting a country first and then beginning the visa process, travellers are increasingly considering destinations they can enter more easily.
Global traveller survey
The 2026 World Traveler Survey, published by IATA, found that 43% of travellers in the Middle East had refrained from visiting a destination because of immigration requirements, highlighting the impact of visa and entry procedures on travel decisions.
The complexity of immigration procedures was the main reason given by travellers who decided against visiting certain destinations.
The survey also showed a strong preference for digital immigration processes, with 60% of travellers worldwide preferring to apply for visas online, compared with 25% who favoured applying in person at consulates or embassies.
According to IATA, standardising government procedures for verifying electronic visas and simplifying entry processes could help reduce obstacles for travellers as more formalities move online before passengers arrive at airports.
Ease of access
Diana Pearson, General Manager of Atlantis Holidays, said ease of obtaining a visa has become increasingly influential in the travel decisions of UAE residents, particularly those planning to visit European Schengen countries, the US, Canada and Australia.
“The challenge does not necessarily lie in a decline in people’s desire to travel, but rather in the uncertainty surrounding visa procedures,” she said.
“The inability to secure an appointment within a reasonable timeframe, or the lack of clarity regarding the date of the decision or return of the passport, makes holiday planning difficult.”
Pearson said travel agencies were seeing growing interest in destinations that do not require prior visas.
The appeal of such destinations goes beyond easier entry requirements, she said, with travellers also considering entry facilities available to different nationalities, competitive costs, the range of tourism experiences and good flight connections with the UAE.
“It is not simply a matter of travellers shifting towards cheaper destinations, but rather a move towards destinations that offer greater accessibility and better opportunities for advance planning,” she said.
Obtaining a visa appointment can take up to two months in some cases, particularly for certain European Schengen destinations, she said, although this should not be regarded as a standard timeframe for all countries.
Pearson also highlighted the distinction between securing an appointment, submitting an application and receiving a final decision. The overall process can therefore take considerably longer than the visa application processing time itself.
Redrawing the travel map
Salah Mansour, CEO of STS at Dubai Link Group, said visa complications are reshaping travel choices for a wide segment of customers, with many becoming more cautious about booking destinations that require lengthy or complex procedures.
Uncertainty over visa issuance dates is prompting some travellers to postpone bookings or limit themselves to researching and comparing destinations, he said.
“These challenges have begun to affect how travellers deal with travel offers and tourist packages. Competitive prices alone are no longer sufficient to push them to book. They now take into account the flexibility of entry procedures and the time required to complete transactions before making a final decision,” Mansour said.
“The problem is not only related to the application deadline, but also extends to the procedures and requirements accompanying the application, and what it may take to prepare the documents and complete the requirements. This makes some travellers reconsider their destination before starting the booking process.”
Most attractive destinations
Alaa Al-Ali, director of Nirvana Tourism and Travel Company, said delays in securing visa appointments have become a major consideration when discussing travel options with customers.
“The ease of entry procedures now gives some destinations a competitive advantage, even when they are not the traveller’s first choice,” he said.
Appointments can take up to two months to secure, particularly during peak travel periods and holidays, with European destinations facing the greatest pressure, he added.
“Travellers do not want to spend a large part of the planning period tracking appointment dates, preparing paperwork and waiting for responses, especially when they have limited holiday time and want to use it to travel,” Al-Ali said.
“Therefore, destinations that offer electronic visas, simplified visa procedures or entry upon arrival become more attractive options for this segment.”
The shift does not necessarily indicate declining interest in traditional destinations, he said, but rather a change in priorities, with easier and faster access potentially tipping the balance in favour of one destination over another.
Visa procedures can have a particularly significant impact on travel during peak seasons, school holidays and festivals tied to fixed dates.
Travel planning now requires more time than in previous years, Al-Ali said, adding that travellers are showing greater interest in destinations offering flexible entry procedures through e-visas or visas on arrival.
No appointments available
Badr Ahli, CEO of Dubai World Travel, said one of the biggest challenges facing travellers is securing appointments to submit visa applications.
Waiting periods for some destinations can extend to one or two months, limiting travellers’ ability to plan trips for their preferred dates.
The problem is not limited to visa requirements themselves, he said, but is largely driven by a lack of available appointments. This leaves travellers with fewer options, particularly those making last-minute travel decisions or with limited flexibility over their holiday dates.
Some Asian destinations have benefited from the situation by attracting demand that previously went elsewhere, supported by simpler entry procedures and travel requirements.
VFS Global: Appointments available on an equal basis
A VFS Global spokesperson said the company’s business model is based on providing neutral administrative services throughout the visa application journey, beginning with appointment booking.
“Our website is the official platform for obtaining an appointment to submit a visa application, and these appointments are available to everyone on an equal basis online,” the spokesperson said.
“At VFS Global, we are committed to ensuring that all applicants have access to the appointment booking process in a transparent and equal manner. Appointments can be booked directly through our website, in accordance with consular regulations and available capacity.”
43% of travellers in the Middle East refrained from visiting a tourist destination because of immigration requirements.
Source: Emirates 24|7