Emiratis welcome Schengen Visa exemption

Dubai: Emiratis are applauding the German and Spanish governments for recently exempting UAE nationals from the Schengen visa to visit the two countries.

Emiratis say it will greatly ease their travels to Europe by awarding visas upon arrival in the two countries and negating the need to file often cumbersome visit visa forms at embassies before travel.

The Schengen visa is a single visa that allows its holders to visit any or all of the 25 member countries, of which 23 are EU countries, using this single visa.

Over a year ago, the UAE had started making intensive diplomatic efforts with the European Union to exempt citizens of the UAE for the Schengen visa, which recently translated into Germany and Spain exempting Emiratis from the visa.

Aisha M., an Emirati sophomore at the American University of Sharjah, said that the moves are good first steps.

“It would be great to not need a visa, a lot of us like to travel to European countries for shopping. At least we girls like to go.”

Majid Al Marzouqi from Dubai said that it would be “an economy booster for all EU countries — we Emiratis have money and like to spend it there. It is also good for German medical purposes,” she said.

Saif Mohammad, also from Dubai, said that increased trust between countries helps both the UAE and its allies.

“It’s cheaper for us and extremely beneficial. No visa at all means improvement in political and international relations. This makes UAE more visible on a European world map.”

Lujain Al Yafeai a senior university student said the changes will help his spring break plans to visit Europe.

“Really? I’m telling my dad and travelling for the spring break to Germany Arabs love Europe so this would be great for vacations.”

Gaith Ahmad said that both Germany and Spain will benefit from a major influx of UAE tourists and cash in their economies.

“Europe is in debt and is in need of our money, and we are willing to spend it. But this is definitely a step forward for the European Union.”

According to WAM, the initiatives by the two countries are the result of the UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ efforts. It also comes as relief for Emiratis from the long procedures that WAM said did not honour the Euro-Emirati relations, especially when the UAE is considered one of the largest commercial partners with the EU with commercial transactions amounting to Dh147 billion in value, while the commercial exchange with Europe is about Dh220 billion.

Another factor, WAM stated, was the large amount of money spent by Emiratis and GCC nationals and the length of their stays in European countries, thus giving them the merit of being exempted from the Schengen visa. WAM added that such facilitation has never been given to any other Arab country. Members of the EU and other western countries are granted numerous facilities in the UAE, such as issuing a UAE visa on arrival in the country.