United Arab Emirates
France
France visa for Emirati citizens
Entry requirement
Emirati citizens do not need a visa for France: stays of up to 90 days are visa-free.
- Maximum stay
- 90 days
- Where to apply
- Nothing to apply for in advance
Checked 7 November 2026 · Passport Index · Confirm at ae.ambafrance.org
For longer stays: study, work and residence
France: visa decisions in the United Arab Emirates
| Year | Applications | Visas issued | Refused | Refusal rate | Multiple-entry share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 24,590 | 19,735 | 4,758 | 19.4% | 29.6% |
| 2024 | 28,778 | 23,093 | 5,399 | 18.9% | 32.6% |
| 2025 | 28,160 | 23,364 | 4,702 | 16.7% | 53.4% |
In 2025, France’s embassy and consulates in the United Arab Emirates (Abu Dhabi Island and Internal Islands City) received 28,160 applications for short-stay Schengen visas and issued 23,364. 16.7% of applications were refused. In 2024 it had been 18.9%: the rate fell by 2.2 points. The number of applications was almost unchanged (28,778 in 2024).
For comparison, all Schengen states together refused 24.2% of the applications lodged in the United Arab Emirates that year, from 10.9% at the consulates of Latvia to 58.2% at those of Bulgaria. France’s consulates worldwide refused 14.2%. France was the 4th most applied-for Schengen state in the United Arab Emirates.
You apply to the Schengen state that is your main destination (the longest stay or the main purpose; the state of first entry only when there is none), so a lower rate elsewhere is no reason to apply there. The figures cover applications lodged in the United Arab Emirates, by any nationality: mostly citizens, but also residents from other countries.
Source: European Commission, Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs, visa statistics for consulates 2023–2025 (© European Union, reused under CC BY 4.0). Short-stay (type C) visas. How these figures are made
French citizens travelling to the United Arab Emirates
FranceUnited Arab Emirates Visa-free, 90 days United Arab Emirates visa for citizens of France
Travel advice for France
- US State Department Level 2: Exercise increased caution
- UK Foreign Office (FCDO) No advice against travel
- German Foreign Office No travel warning
What the US, British and German foreign ministries tell their own citizens about travelling there, in each ministry’s own terms.
Before travelling from the United Arab Emirates to France, it helps to know the official travel advice: the US State Department rates France at Level 2, exercise increased caution (updated 20 October 2026), the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office does not advise against travel to France (updated 22 October 2026) and the German Foreign Office has no travel warning for France (updated 3 November 2026). The advice is aimed at each government’s own nationals.
Good to know
How long Emirati citizens can stay in France
Emirati citizens may stay in France for up to 90 days. Days in France count towards the Schengen limit of 90 days in any 180-day period across all member states.
France and the Schengen area
Visa-free stays of Emirati citizens in France count towards the Schengen limit of 90 days in any 180-day period, shared with every other member state.
France’s neighbours for Emirati citizens
Switzerland, Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg, Italy, Andorra, Monaco and Spain admit Emirati citizens visa-free.
French citizens travelling to the United Arab Emirates
No visa is needed by French citizens for the United Arab Emirates, for stays of up to 90 days. The rule is the same in both directions between the United Arab Emirates and France.
Frequently asked questions
Do Emirati citizens need a visa for France?
Emirati citizens do not need a visa for France: stays of up to 90 days are visa-free.
How long can Emirati citizens stay in France?
Emirati citizens can stay in France for up to 90 days, within the Schengen limit of 90 days in any 180.
Do French citizens need a visa for the United Arab Emirates?
No visa is needed by French citizens for the United Arab Emirates, for stays of up to 90 days.
Can Emirati citizens enter France visa-free?
Yes, Emirati citizens can enter France without a visa and stay for up to 90 days.
Visa data: Passport Index via passport-index-data, as of 7 November 2026. Rules change, sometimes overnight. Confirm with the embassy or the official government portal before you book.