With the UAE’s 55th National Day long weekend (expected 2–6 December 2026) fast approaching, travel agencies report that appointment slots at several European visa centres are now booked 45–60 days out. Residents hoping for Paris Christmas markets or a Roman holiday are being turned away unless they hold long-term multi-entry visas. According to Wise Fox Tourism and Pluto Travels, the delay stems from staffing shortages at external service providers and lingering post-pandemic caps on daily submissions. The bottleneck is pushing holidaymakers toward easier-access spots such as Georgia, Armenia, Vietnam and Sri Lanka, all of which offer e-visa or visa-on-arrival facilities for UAE residents. Package tour operators have responded by launching discounted “visa-light” bundles to destinations where entry is frictionless. Holiday Factory’s four-night Tbilisi package (from AED 2,799) sold out its first allocation within 48 hours, while Maldives beach breaks and Kyrgyzstan ski trips are trending on UAE social media. For employers, the shift matters because many staff will take annual leave around the public holiday. HR should expect shorter-notice leave requests once the official break is confirmed and may see an uptick in travel-authorisation queries for destinations traditionally perceived as “low risk” but unfamiliar to some corporate policies. Travel managers are advised to update destination-risk matrices and ensure emergency medical coverage extends to less frequented countries.
Source: Khaleej Times
