Germany considers 5-year multiple entry Schengen visa for UAE residents

Yamina Soufou, Director of Marketing and Sales at the German National Tourist Office for the GCC, revealed that Germany is considering granting five-year multiple-entry Schengen visas to residents of the UAE, particularly those who have visited the country multiple times, aiming to address the high demand for travel from the UAE to Germany.

Speaking to Al Khaleej newspaper on the sidelines of Germany’s 10th participation in the Arabian Travel Market (ATM), Soufou said, "We are facing significant demand from UAE residents for Schengen visas. We have proposed granting frequent travelers to Germany a five-year multiple-entry visa, similar to what is offered to GCC citizens, and we hope this will be announced soon.”

Soufou added that over 10,000 Schengen visas were issued to UAE residents in the first quarter of 2025.

In 2024, more than 36,000 visas were issued to UAE residents, marking a 26% increase compared to 2023.

She emphasised that tourists from the UAE rank first among GCC countries, followed by Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Kuwait.