Schengen travel amid Europe’s 46°C heatwave: How UAE residents adapted their holiday plans

Scorching temperatures, blazing skies, and heat alerts across the map—Europe is in the grip of a relentless heatwave, with parts of Spain hitting a blistering 46°C and France entirely under red alert. Southern Europe is sweltering, with Portugal, Spain, Italy, Greece, and France enduring days of back-to-back extreme heat, intensified by climate change.

For many UAE residents, Europe is usually the great summer escape, a cool, breezy contrast to the Gulf’s searing heat. But this year, travellers are facing a sizzling surprise. Are holiday plans being cancelled, adjusted, or simply carried on with sunscreen in hand?

Turns out, most are choosing to brave it.

“The heatwave isn’t affecting our plans because, to be honest, it's rather hot here too,” says Ivanova Galitsina, who works in public relations management. She’s headed to Greece, followed by Germany for a football match, and then Hungary for a wedding. “Also, after the recent flight cancellations and diversions, a heatwave seems like a small issue. We are making sure though that our accommodation has air conditioning.”

For Galitsina, the trip is non-negotiable. “The wedding was very long in the planning and I am very much looking forward to all the festivities, heat or no heat,” she adds. “And for football, there's a group of about 20 of us from the Dubai Lions fan club of Aston Villa going to Germany for a friendly match.”

Greece remains a popular destination for others too, including Reem Maroun and her family. “We went to Naxos 10 years ago and loved it. We always wanted to go back and decided this is the year,” she says.

Did the heatwave affect their booking? “Well, we booked before knowing about the heatwave,” explains Maroun. Still, she’s unfazed. “There might be less humidity too,” she adds, noting that she had checked the forecast earlier, and temperatures were still in the high 27s.

Anika Berger, founder of NikNak PR, also isn't letting the heat get in the way of her Italian summer. Having lived in the Middle East for most of her life, she’s no stranger to high temperatures. “Although I will miss the AC, I plan to brave it and, of course, eat my weight in Italian gelato to stay cool,” she laughs.

Her itinerary is packed: Montecatini Terme, Tuscany, Rome, Florence, Venice, Cortona (for a wedding), and Pisa, most of which are hovering around 30°C. The plan? Stay cool, soak it all in, and don't cancel a thing.

Dubai’s Sarah Daud originally planned her summer in Portugal, but later shifted to the UK. “We would probably experience all temperatures,” she says, adding that she’ll begin her trip in the cooler climes of Newcastle, then move on to Wales and London. “I’m hoping cracking a window will be enough.”

For many UAE residents, the soaring European temperatures aren’t enough to derail long-awaited summer plans. With careful planning, AC-ready stays, and a good dose of humour (and gelato), travellers are choosing to adapt rather than cancel. For now, it's clear: sunscreen is in, spirits are high, and the holidays must go on.