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DUBAI: Demand for travel from the UAE to the UK is expected to soar as the country’s schools close for spring break and visa processing times return to the usual 15 working days.
UAE residents and global travelers seeking UK entry visas (for leisure and business travel) were forced to wait up to six to seven weeks until December last year due to pandemic-induced delays.
A spokesperson for VFS Global, the official partner of UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI), told Gulf News: “The processing time for UK visas has returned to 15 working days, and the turnaround time for priority and super priority visas has also normalized.”
The decision time for priority visas is now five business days, and super priority visas will be ready for collection the next day.
In addition, UKVI confirmed that there has been no change to the visa application fee structure.
According to the immigration agency, a standard short-term visitor visa (single or multiple entries) costs Dh473.80 and a long-term visa (multiple two-year entries) costs Dh1,778. A six-month student visa can be used for Dh947.60.
Travel demand to UK picks up pace
In light of these new developments, travel agencies and airlines operating on the UAE-UK route are hoping that travel demand will pick up once the school holidays are over. “Demand for UK visas remains strong. We see travel accelerating in 2022 and we expect this trend to continue in 2023,” a VFS spokesman said.
“We are witnessing a good mix of demand from leisure, family and business travellers. Visitor visas remain the most in-demand visa category for UAE nationals, with over 2,200 visas granted to UAE nationals last year.” UAE nationals no longer require a visa to travel to the UK. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, if one is a national of Kuwait, Oman, Qatar or the UAE, one can pay £30 to get an Electronic Visa Waiver (EVW) instead of a visa.
“The EVW allows you to visit the UK for up to six months for tourism, business, study or medical treatment. If you are visiting for other reasons, please check whether you need a visa.”
A Dubai-based travel agency told Gulf News: “Travel demand continues to show positive growth in general. Compared to the same period in 2022, we see a 60% increase in travel bookings throughout the spring break period, while summer holidays are starting to gain traction.”
Etihad Airways and Emirates, the flag carriers of the UAE, operate several daily flights to various destinations in the UK. Emirates operates 129 weekly flights, of which 14 to Birmingham, 42 to London Heathrow, 7 to Glasgow, 21 to Gatwick and Manchester, 7 to Newcastle, flight 7 to Stansted.
LHR confusion won’t deter travelers
Emirati-UK travelers will not be intimidated by the ongoing strike by border guards and ground staff at London Heathrow (LHR) airport, travel agencies say. Ahmed Soliman, managing director of Travel Connections Arabia (TCA), said demand in the UK remained stable as there were no clear signs or scheduled strikes.
He added: “The UK remains a highly sought-after travel destination for Emiratis throughout the year. Over the past five years, including during the pandemic, flight traffic from the UAE to the When star hotels are full, bookings usually spike.”
Commenting on the advance booking situation, Soliman said, “Based on our data, we typically receive a high volume of travel-related inquiries leading up to school holidays such as spring break.”
Furthermore, Soliman explained that the average fare for a direct flight has remained steady at AED 3,500, even though there are several flight options. According to travel aggregator SkyScanner, a round-trip ticket from the UAE to the UK (for travel between February 3 and 17) costs Dh2,680 on a British Airways flight and Dh3,066 on an Emirates flight. Ram. Compared with the peak travel period in December 2022, fares in this sector have also remained stable. From 23 December 2022 to 3 January 2023, flights from the UAE to the UK will cost approximately AED 3,300 including taxes.
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