Lengthening wait times for US and Schengen visas are forcing many UAE residents to rework their winter holiday plans, according to Khaleej Times. Applicants for regular US visa interviews now face waits of nearly a year, while Schengen-area embassies have no available appointments for weeks and processing can take more than a month. Bharat Aidasani of Pluto Travels said many customers are now checking visa appointment availability and processing timelines before even finalising their destination, reversing the usual order of planning a trip. Fazil Firoos of Go Now Tourism echoed the trend, noting that some applicants face waiting periods of nearly one year just to secure a standard interview slot. As a result, destinations offering visa-free entry, visa-on-arrival, or simple online applications — including Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam and Singapore — are seeing a surge in interest from UAE-based travellers. The shift is especially visible among Indian passport holders, who are increasingly redirecting toward Georgia, Azerbaijan, Armenia and Kazakhstan, while Emirati nationals continue to favour European destinations where they face fewer visa obstacles. The timing adds pressure on travel agencies, since the delays coincide with the UAE National Day holiday period and the winter school break, when demand for international travel typically peaks. Agents say they are now advising clients to check embassy appointment calendars before locking in flights or hotel bookings.