Visa-on-arrival is an excellent choice when you do not want to plan your trip much in advance and have time to fill the application only in a few minutes. On reaching your destination airport you just pay the fee (where applicable) and get your visa.
Top visa on arrival destinations in UAE:
- Maldives – maybe the most sought after destination among honeymooners and weekend getaways. Residents of the UAE are provided with a free 30 days visa.
- Nepal -A heaven to trekking lovers and adventurers. Tribhuvan International Airport provides visas to the UAE residents.
- Sri Lanka– Sri Lanka has beaches, culture, and wildlife, and it provides visas on arrival to UAE residents who have already ETA approval online.
- Seychelles– Ideal beach lovers. UAE residents are able to receive a visitor permit at the time of arrival and which can last up to three months.
- Kenya & Tanzania – Wildlife tours and natural beauties are not far away since both nations also issue a visa on arrival to UAE citizens.
- And many more..
The Emirates ID is a Travel Document.
The fact that your Emirates ID is not just a residency card but also an effective travel document in some situations can be considered one of the strongest advantages of living in the UAE.
In the case of GCC countries, UAE residents may be able to enter without showing their passport, but instead with their Emirates ID. This would be particularly useful when making short business trips or weekend outings.
Countries in which Emirates ID can be used to enter:
- Saudi Arabia -Particularly in Umrah or Hajj, Emirates ID simplifies border crossing.
- Oman– UAE citizens on a regular basis visit Muscat and Salalah with Emirates ID.
- Kuwait, Bahrain and Qatar- most of the GCC countries permit UAE residents to access their Emirates ID to carry out easier entry checks.
UAE visa processing times.
Although most destinations are visa-free or visa-on-arrival, there are other common countries of interest which need prior visa. Luckily, the processing time of UAE residents is much faster than that of most other applicants.
The average visa processing time in UAE:
- Schengen Visa (Europe) 10 to 15 working days, by embassy.
- UK Visit Visa – 15 working days (priority options available).
- US Tourist Visa (B1/B2) – The applicant may have to wait weeks but it can be processed within 3-6 weeks of interview.
- Asian eVisas– Thailand, Vietnam, and Cambodia carry out eVisas in 1-3 working days.
- Australia & Canada – 2-6 weeks on average with application traffic.
Optimal Time of the Year to Travel to the UAE.
It is only as important to schedule a trip as it is the choice of destination. School holidays, Eid holidays and long weekends are the periods that UAE residents plan their holidays around.
The following is a breakdown of the most opportune seasonal traveling periods:
- Summer (June -August): Get out of the heat in the UAE by going to Georgia, Armenia, Europe or the UK. These are locations that have a cooler climate and outdoors activities.
- Winter (November- February): Ideal in tropical holidays in Maldives, Sri Lanka, Seychelles and Zanzibar, where it is possible to count on sunshine all the year round.
- Spring (March to May): This is a great time to explore cultures in Turkey, Jordan and the Balkans, and the weather is pleasant and the plants are in blossom.
- Autumn (September to October): It is the best season to do safaris in Kenya and Tanzania because it is the dry season and wildlife will be the easiest to see.
UAE resident travel checklist.
When packing your bags, the following are the most important things to consider:
- Legal Emirates ID and residence visa.
- Passport having a minimum of 6 months left to its validity.
- Return flight ticket (in many countries, you need to prove that you are also going somewhere)
- receipt of accommodation booking.
- Travel insurance (required in the Schengen, strongly suggested elsewhere)
- Digitized copies of valuable documents
Final Thoughts
The benefits of living in the UAE are amazing in terms of traveling. Being a resident, you can visit dozens of destinations without a visa or having a visa on arrival, you can use your Emirates ID to travel to the GCC, and have reduced processing times in countries where advance visas are needed.
Your UAE home is a gateway to a brand new world of vacation destinations, be it Maldives vacations and Georgia road trips or European holidays and African safaris. With a little planning and seasonal travel awareness you can better use the off time and explore more of the world without some of the hassle.
And next time you find yourself in need of a flight, keep this in mind–the world has never been more open to the UAE residents like it is today.
