UAE Residents Spent AED 16.8M on Rejected Schengen Visas in 2023

UAE residents spent AED 16.8 million on rejected Schengen visa applications in 2023, according to a recent report. The number of rejected Emirati applications last year stood at 22.44% of all Emirati applications, which is 25% higher than the number from the previous year. 

The Schengen visa permits uninterrupted travel between 27 European countries, including Germany, Spain, France, and Poland. Before June 11th 2024, the cost of applying for a Schengen visa was approximately AED 320, not including the service fees which vary according to area. However, as of June 2024, the price has risen by a further 12% globally. 

The report also details how a total of 233,932 Schengen visa applications were filed by UAE residents in 2023, which is 24.97% higher than the previous year. These applications accounted for 2.27% of all Schengen visa applications globally, making the UAE the country with the 10th highest number of applications filed. 

The total spent on Schengen visas last year by Emirati citizens, both accepted and rejected, was AED 74.9 million.