Athens, Santorini and Mykonos are among the most-booked summer escapes from the UAE, and Greece is one of the friendlier Schengen consulates here. In 2025 the Greek Embassy in Abu Dhabi received 13,587 applications from UAE residents, refused only 16% — well below the UAE average of 23.9% — and gave 59% of approved applicants a multiple-entry visa. The main obstacle is timing: Greek summer appointments go quickly.
Checked on 20 October 2026 against the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs, VFS Global Greece UAE and the European Commission’s 2025 visa statistics. Sources at the end.
On this page
- Greece at a glance
- Which VFS centre: your emirate decides
- Step by step
- Documents and money
- Planning islands and ferries
- What the 2025 figures say
- Questions people ask
Greece at a glance
| Who decides | Embassy of Greece, Abu Dhabi |
| Where you submit | VFS Global — Dubai (Wafi) or Abu Dhabi |
| Visa fee | €90 adults, €45 children 6–11, free under 6 — paid in AED |
| VFS service fee | Charged separately |
| Decision time | Up to 15 days; longer in peak season; no official fast track |
| Apply | Up to 6 months before travel |
| 2025 not-issued rate | 16% (UAE average 23.9%) |
| Multiple-entry share | 59% of issued visas |
Apply to Greece only if it is your main destination — the most nights, or the main purpose. Seven nights across Athens and the islands with two in Rome is a Greek application. See which Schengen country to apply to.
Which VFS centre: your emirate decides
| Residence visa issued in | Submit at |
|---|---|
| Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah, Umm Al Quwain | VFS Global Dubai (Wafi Mall, Umm Hurair 2) |
| Abu Dhabi, Al Ain | VFS Global Abu Dhabi |
VFS collects your documents and fingerprints and forwards the file. It has no say in the decision, and no agent can influence it.
Step by step
- Download the VFS Greece UAE checklist for your purpose.
- Fill in and sign the Schengen application form.
- Book an appointment at the right centre for your emirate.
- Attend in person for submission and fingerprints (unless given in the last 59 months; under-12s exempt).
- Pay the visa fee and VFS service fee.
- Track the application and collect your passport.
For trips in June to September, book your appointment in March or April. Greek summer slots from the UAE are often gone weeks ahead.
Documents and money
- Passport valid at least 3 months beyond your return, with two blank pages.
- UAE residence visa valid at least 3 months after your return, and Emirates ID.
- Signed application form and Schengen-format photos.
- Flight reservation and accommodation for every night, including island hotels.
- Employer letter or NOC.
- Bank statements for 3 to 6 months, stamped, showing regular income.
- Travel insurance: €30,000 minimum, valid in all Schengen states.
How much money to show
Greece’s commonly cited reference is €50 per person per day, with a minimum of €300 for short trips, on top of your accommodation and travel. A 7-day trip for two people means at least €700 of spending money. Island hotels in high season are expensive, so a balance that covers the whole trip with room to spare is safer than the minimum. See bank balance for a Schengen visa.
Planning islands and ferries
- Show every night. A hotel in Athens and “islands later” looks unplanned. List each island and each booking.
- Ferries are domestic. Island-hopping inside Greece does not need extra entries.
- Turkish coast day trips are not. A ferry from Kos or Rhodes to Bodrum leaves Schengen. You need a multiple-entry Schengen visa and a Turkish visa or e-visa if your passport requires one. See our Türkiye visa guide.
What the 2025 figures say
| Embassy of Greece, Abu Dhabi (2025) | Figure |
|---|---|
| Applications | 13,587 |
| Visas issued | 11,285 |
| Not-issued rate | 16% |
| Multiple-entry share of issued visas | 59% |
Greece combines a low refusal rate with a high multiple-entry share. That is a good reason to plan properly, not a reason to choose Greece if your trip is mostly elsewhere. Compare every consulate in our Schengen statistics for the UAE.
If you are refused
The refusal letter gives reasons and the deadline to appeal. Reapplying with a file that fixes the reason is often faster. See our refusal and appeal guide.
Mistakes to avoid
- Trying to book a July appointment in June.
- Gaps in the accommodation plan between islands.
- A single-entry visa for a trip with a Turkey day trip.
- Submitting at VFS Dubai with an Abu Dhabi residence visa.
Questions people ask
Where do I apply for a Greece visa in Dubai?
At VFS Global in Wafi Mall, if your residence visa was issued in Dubai or the Northern Emirates. Abu Dhabi residents use VFS Abu Dhabi.
How long does a Greece visa take from the UAE?
Usually up to 15 days after submission, longer in summer. There is no official fast track.
Is it easy to get a Greece visa from Dubai?
Greece refused 16% of UAE applications in 2025, below the UAE average. A complete, genuine file still matters.
Related guides
- Italy Schengen visa from the UAE
- Spain Schengen visa from the UAE
- Schengen visa appointments in the UAE
- Schengen visa from Dubai and the UAE
Sources
- Hellenic Republic, Ministry of Foreign Affairs — Schengen visas: mfa.gr
- VFS Global — Greece visa application centres, UAE
- European Commission — Visa statistics for consulates, 2025 (published 28 May 2026)
- Property Finder — Greece visa for UAE residents, December 2025
Written by Asad Waleed M, Dubai. Asad has lived in the UAE for nine years and researches visa rules from government sources. He is not an immigration lawyer or consultant, and Sifqa does not process applications. Read the editorial policy.
Last checked 20 October 2026. Rechecked quarterly and before each summer season. Found an error? Email [email protected] — it gets fixed and logged.