No Schengen visa? How UAE residents saved their vacation with these escape-ready spots

If you didn’t get the gelato, you got the coconut ice-cream.

That’s Dubai-based Divya Mittal’s cheery outlook, after missing out on her trip to Italy this year. A homemaker who was planning a family holiday with her husband and three children, she had crafted a dream itinerary through Florence, Milan, Rome, and Venice. It would have been her children’s first trip to Europe.

But with visa slots only opening a week before their travel dates, the timing was too tight. They took a chance—and lost it.

Looking beyond Europe: What UAE travellers did instead

Still, Mittal didn’t give up on summer travel. “We took the kids to Thailand instead. It was easy, and we had a wonderful time in Phuket and Krabi,” she said. The children ate coconut ice cream on the floating boats, even if they missed out on Italian gelato.

Before deciding on Thailand, the family explored other Schengen-free options. “We were trying to look for something easier, close by, and that wouldn’t require too much time in planning. So we considered Vietnam, Cambodia, even Egypt and Turkey,” she added.

Top Schengen-free alternatives that UAE travellers considered:

• Vietnam: Hanoi, Da Nang, Hoi An

• Cambodia: Siem Reap, Phnom Penh

• Egypt: Cairo

• Turkey: Istanbul, Cappadocia, Antalya

• Maldives: Resort islands, Male

• Georgia: Tbilisi, Kazbegi, Batumi

• Armenia: Yerevan, Lake Sevan

• Azerbaijan: Baku, Sheki

• Sri Lanka: Colombo, Ella, Galle

• Indonesia: Bali, Jakarta

• Nepal: Kathmandu, Pokhara

• Mauritius: Beaches, cultural sites

• Seychelles: Island escapes

• Malaysia – Kuala Lumpur, Langkawi

Returning to India for a vacation

Anisha Pamnani, a PR consultant, shares how her plans to visit Europe this summer didn’t quite pan out. “My husband and I started trying to apply for a Schengen visa back in March, using a mix of travel agents and visa apps, but we just couldn’t get an appointment in time for our summer travel plans. We were hoping to visit Italy and also spend a few days in Switzerland, where we have some family, but with the delays, it just became too uncertain. We were really looking forward to our Europe trip – it’s something we had planned for a while, with a full itinerary mapped out. But we figured it might actually work out better to push the trip to next year, when the weather is a bit milder and more enjoyable for sightseeing. Hopefully by then, the visa process will also be less stressful.”

Instead of Europe, Pamnani, and her husband chose to explore India this summer. “We visited Jaipur, which was such a vibrant mix of culture, history, and great food – walking through the old city and visiting the forts was incredible. We also spent time in Rishikesh, which gave us a totally different experience – much more relaxed and spiritual, surrounded by nature and the Ganges. While it wasn’t the European summer we had imagined, the India trip turned out to be really fulfilling in its own way. We’re also thinking of doing a short break to somewhere like the Maldives later this year, just to squeeze in some beach time.”

Booking the elusive slot

Natasha Hatherall-Shaw, the CEO and director of PR agency Tish Tash, had hoped to spend summer in Europe with her husband. “Appointments are released so infrequently, and when they do, they get snapped up. I think there is a real ‘art’ to getting an appointment slot I’ve not yet mastered,” she said. Italy or France was the original plan—but when slots didn't come through, they detoured to the Maldives instead. “We have an appointment in the first week of September for France now. Hoping they may give us an annual visa so we can go next year!”

Dubai-based Anna Ivanova-Galitsina also faced a similar struggle, although she eventually managed to secure a slot.

The demand for Schengen visas continues to outpace supply, and now, there's an additional step that UAE travellers must factor into their plans. Starting June 18, 2025, all applicants scheduling an appointment through VFS Global’s portal must first complete an online visa application form directly on the booking platform. This new requirement is aimed at improving the efficiency and accuracy of the visa system, according to a notice issued by VFS Global.

The agency, which handles document collection for Schengen countries, posted: “Please be informed that effective June 18, all applicants must complete an online Visa Application Form on our appointment booking portal when scheduling an appointment.”

For those dreaming of European summers, the paperwork just got a little more layered—but the gelato may still be worth the chase.