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29 March 2024

Schengen visa still needed: German Embassy

Published
By Staff and Wam

Despite the European Parliament voting late last month to allow visa-free travel for UAE citizens to countries in the Schengen Area in Europe, the visa requirements remain in place until such time as the procedural arrangements to put the decision into effect are executed.

This is being reiterated by the German Embassy as there seems to be confusion amidst some media reports suggesting that the Schengen Visa waiver for UAE Nationals is already in place.

In a prominent notice on its website, the German Embassy is alerting users that Schengen Visa remains mandatory for UAE nationals in 2014. “The German Embassy wishes to inform that contrary to some recent publication in local media, UAE nationals are still required to apply for a visa before travelling to Schengen countries including Germany,” the notice reads.

“Without a valid visa you are – not – allowed to enter the Schengen countries,” the notice reiterates and adds that an application for a Schengen visa may be filed up to three months prior to the intended journey. The German Consulate in Dubai reiterates the same message on its website.

The European Parliament had voted on February 27 to allow visa-free travel for UAE citizens to 27 European countries in the Schengen Area in Europe.

A meeting held in Strasbourg in France saw a majority 523 out of 577 EU representatives voting in favour of allowing UAE citizens to travel visa-free to Schengen countries.

The EU’s endorsement of the visa waiver status for UAE citizens traveling to Schengen Area is deemed as crucial stage which will be followed by setting up of a mechanism to implement the decision.

It was then announced that procedural arrangements to put the decision in to effect will start by setting up of a joint working team of the UAE and EU, who will implement the decision as soon as possible.

Earlier this month, the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced the passing of a new ruling exempting citizens from 13 European member states from requiring a pre-entry visa. Nationals of these 13 EU member states were earlier required pre-entry visas to visit the UAE.

The UAE decision took effect from March 22, 2014, and a statement added that all the necessary measures have been taken to implement the decision at all UAE points of entry.

Although related, it is perhaps this decision that is being confused by certain media outlets with the commencement of visa-free travel by UAE nationals to Schengen countries.

The operational arrangements for UAE Nationals’ visa-free travel to the Schengen area are still underway and no date has been announced so far.

Nevertheless, last month’s vote to eventually allow visa-free travel for UAE Nationals to the Schengen area is a reflection of the good reputation enjoyed by the UAE and its achievements on the regional and global levels.

The decision affirms the UAE’s strong and strategic political and economic relations with EU, where the trade and investment between the parties have exceeded to €50 billion.

The number of return flights between the UAE and Europe has reached 508 per week, and there are more than 160,000 EU citizens living in the UAE, in addition to over 1.64 million visitors who come to the UAE annually according to 2012 figures.

Mariya Gabriel, European Parliament MP, told Emirates News Agency (WAM) last month that the decision would be implemented soon, especially that the UAE has provided all the necessary technical support.

MEP welcomes UAE visa exemption

Portuguese Member of the European Parliament (MEP) and Chairman of the European Union-UAE Parliamentary Friendship Group, Mario David, has warmly welcomed the exemption of visas to the UAE for the 13 remaining European Union Member States which did not have the exemption with effect from yesterday.

The new exempted countries are Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia. Thus, effective March 22nd, 2014 onwards, all the 28 EU Member States citizens can travel to the UAE without any visa requirements.

The UAE decision came after approval by the European Parliament last February of the visa exemption for UAE citizens travelling to the EU Schengen Area.

Mario David, who is also EPP Vice President, congratulated the UAE authorities for this initiative, saying, "I hope we can enhance our cultural and economic ties, strengthening our mutual knowledge, understanding and respect. This is an historical milestone, as this is the first Arab country to have open borders for its citizens within the EU common area (Schengen)."