United Arab Emirates
Switzerland
Switzerland visa for Emirati citizens
Entry requirement
No visa is needed by Emirati citizens for Switzerland, for stays of up to 90 days.
- Maximum stay
- 90 days
- Where to apply
- Nothing to apply for in advance
Checked 7 November 2026 · Passport Index · Confirm at eda.admin.ch
For longer stays: study, work and residence
Switzerland: visa decisions in the United Arab Emirates
| Year | Applications | Visas issued | Refused | Refusal rate | Multiple-entry share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 21,465 | 17,604 | 3,737 | 17.4% | 48.6% |
| 2024 | 27,148 | 21,251 | 5,788 | 21.3% | 70.5% |
| 2025 | 25,603 | 19,881 | 5,449 | 21.3% | 68.6% |
In 2025, Switzerland’s embassy and consulates in the United Arab Emirates (Abu Dhabi Island and Internal Islands City) received 25,603 applications for short-stay Schengen visas and issued 19,881. The refusal rate was 21.3%. That is barely different from 2024 (21.3%). Applications fell by 6% compared with 2024 (27,148).
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. Switzerland’s consulates worldwide refused 12.5%. Switzerland was the 6th 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
Swiss citizens travelling to the United Arab Emirates
SwitzerlandUnited Arab Emirates Visa-free, 90 days United Arab Emirates visa for citizens of Switzerland
Travel advice for Switzerland
- US State Department Level 1: Exercise normal precautions
- 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 Switzerland, it helps to know the official travel advice: the US State Department rates Switzerland at Level 1, exercise normal precautions (updated 13 August 2026), the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office does not advise against travel to Switzerland (updated 11 August 2026) and the German Foreign Office has no travel warning for Switzerland (updated 13 October 2026).
Good to know
How long Emirati citizens can stay in Switzerland
Emirati citizens may stay in Switzerland for up to 90 days. Days in Switzerland count towards the Schengen limit of 90 days in any 180-day period across all member states.
Switzerland and the Schengen area
Visa-free stays of Emirati citizens in Switzerland count towards the Schengen limit of 90 days in any 180-day period, shared with every other member state.
Switzerland’s neighbours for Emirati citizens
Germany, Italy, Liechtenstein, France and Austria admit Emirati citizens visa-free.
Swiss citizens travelling to the United Arab Emirates
Swiss citizens do not need a visa for the United Arab Emirates: stays of up to 90 days are visa-free. The rule is the same in both directions between the United Arab Emirates and Switzerland.
Frequently asked questions
Do Emirati citizens need a visa for Switzerland?
No visa is needed by Emirati citizens for Switzerland, for stays of up to 90 days.
How long can Emirati citizens stay in Switzerland?
Emirati citizens can stay in Switzerland for up to 90 days, within the Schengen limit of 90 days in any 180.
Do Swiss citizens need a visa for the United Arab Emirates?
Swiss citizens do not need a visa for the United Arab Emirates: stays of up to 90 days are visa-free.
Can Emirati citizens enter Switzerland visa-free?
Yes, Emirati citizens can enter Switzerland 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.