Visa processing and travel service companies in the UAE are switching over to an AI-driven transformation in the sector, replacing human intervention to create a seamless application process amidst a surge in outbound travel, which has triggered massive demand for tourist and business visas, industry players disclosed.
Leading companies in the sector, such as Visarun.ai, are also set for major regional expansion to tap into massive business opportunities, with many MENA countries seeing unprecedented spikes in the number of visa seekers.
Visas for Schengen countries top the demand list, followed by those for the USA and Canada.
Interestingly, of late, Australia and Asian countries such as Singapore, China and Japan are also seeing a spike in demand for outbound visas from UAE residents, especially among business travellers, industry insiders said.
The UAE, being home to the largest expat population in the Gulf region, is also seeing a spike in demand for visas for visiting relations and friends during the current festival and spring break for educational institutions, they said.
“We are creating an AI-led seamless visa application process – from when a person has no visa to when they receive it,” Alena Iakina, Co-founder, CCO, and CMO of Visarun.ai, told Arabian Business.
“Now, everything is reduced to a simple, fast, intuitive interaction between the user and the platform,” she said.
Iakina said that traditionally, visa processing has been a complex, multi-step process, involving multiple people, including visa managers, intermediaries, and consultants.
“We eliminate unnecessary steps, replacing them with smart algorithms.”
Dnata Travel and Tumodo are the other leading business travel players in the UAE.
The industry players’ move on the AI-driven shift in their operations and processes comes at a time when the UAE is currently seeing a record surge in flight bookings, fuelled by Eid Al Fitr and spring break, as reported by Arabian Business early this week.
Dubai International Airport (DXB) is preparing for a significant surge in passenger traffic as the Eid holiday approaches, with more than 3.6 million travellers expected between March 26 and April 7.
AI to change future of visa processing in UAE
Industry players said the current efforts are aimed at the long-term goal of developing an AI-powered agent capable of managing the entire visa process – from application submission to visa issuance.
This is to enable users to obtain visas without complex interactions with consulates and intermediaries, they said.
In the short term, however, they said companies are engaged in developing a fully automated platform for corporate clients that minimises manual operations and accelerates the visa process.
“We are shaping the future of visa processing, where every step is automated, intelligent, and seamless,” an industry executive said.
Iakina said the AI-driven platform will handle routine tasks, such as automatically verifying documents, predicting rejection probabilities, and guiding users on how to get a visa faster.
“People won’t need to deal with the complexities; algorithms will handle everything,” she said.
Sector experts said the industry is also working on new-age techs such as blockchain to replace paper visas, eliminating issues with fake documents and lost passports. This will involve securely storing all information in protected digital databases, with biometrics simplifying the travel process.
“In the future, we will cross borders using facial recognition without passports or paperwork. Dubai is already testing this technology, and such systems will be widely implemented within a few years,” the Visarun.ai senior executive said, adding that “in short, visa processing will become as fast and convenient as booking a flight.”
Iakina said their AI-powered services will also allow regional companies to process employee visas with just a few clicks, eliminating extra work for HR and travel managers.
“Besides, the UAE and Saudi Arabia are actively developing smart visa systems, and we are ready to integrate with their digital platforms,” she said.
UAE, MENA anticipated to see surge in travel demand
Industry insiders said the AI-led push for faster visa processing is to deal with the anticipated surge in travel demand in the UAE and the wider region.
Analysts predict a 20–25 percent jump in outbound tourism from MENA countries in 2025, with robust growth in tourist travel to Europe and the US.
The digitalisation of visa processing will help accelerate application procedures, tackling the surging demand. The move is also to align with the changes being implemented or planned by some of the leading countries in their visa-issuing procedures.
While the EU plans to move Schengen visa applications entirely online by 2026, the UK is introducing the ETA system, eliminating visa requirements for Gulf citizens. The US is also reportedly reducing interview wait times, making visa applications more efficient.
“Demand for visas from MENA countries will remain high, and simplified visa processes will make international travel more accessible,” Iakina said.
The UAE, Saudi Arabia and Egypt are currently seeing the maximum demand for tourist, business and religious visa applications in the MENA region, while Jordan and Qatar are said to be seeing a significant rise in demand of late.
The UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar are also key target markets for visa processing services due to their substantial migrant populations requiring visas for international travel, including EU and US destinations.
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