Visa delays reshape UAE residents’ travel plans as easier-entry destinations gain appeal

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. Diana Pearson “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 c