Abu Dhabi residents apply for most Schengen visas at the VFS Global centre at The Mall, World Trade Centre, Abu Dhabi. That includes France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Austria, Greece and Portugal.
- Spain uses BLS International on Al Reem Island.
- Poland takes applications only at its embassy in Khalidiyah.
- France takes every UAE application in Abu Dhabi, even from Dubai residents.
- Germany and Italy send Abu Dhabi visa holders to Abu Dhabi and refuse them in Dubai.
Checked on 30 October 2026 against embassy websites and the visa centres’ UAE pages. Sources are at the end.
Who counts as an Abu Dhabi applicant?
It depends on the emirate that issued your residence visa, not where you live or work. If your visa was issued in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain or Al Dhafra, you are an Abu Dhabi applicant for consulates that split the UAE. Someone with a Dubai visa who lives in Abu Dhabi is a Dubai applicant for those countries. The issuing emirate is shown on your residence visa and in the ICP app.
Which Schengen countries take applications in Abu Dhabi?
| Country | Where in Abu Dhabi | Rule for Abu Dhabi residents |
|---|---|---|
| France | VFS Global, The Mall, World Trade Centre | Only centre in the UAE; all residents apply here. Paid home pick-up is optional. |
| Germany | VFS Global, Abu Dhabi | Abu Dhabi and Al Ain residence visas go to the Abu Dhabi centre |
| Italy | VFS Global, Abu Dhabi | The Dubai centre refuses Abu Dhabi residence visas |
| Spain | BLS International, Tamouh Tower (13th floor), Marina Square, Al Reem Island | Either BLS centre; decisions by the Spanish Embassy in Abu Dhabi |
| Netherlands (also Luxembourg) | VFS Global, Abu Dhabi | Dubai or Abu Dhabi |
| Portugal | VFS Global, Abu Dhabi | Dubai or Abu Dhabi; decisions by the Embassy of Portugal in Abu Dhabi |
| Poland | Embassy of Poland, CI Tower, office 1502, Al Bateen Street, Khalidiyah | Only location in the UAE; book through e-konsulat.gov.pl |
| Austria, Greece, Malta, Bulgaria, Sweden, Switzerland | VFS Global, Abu Dhabi (per VFS’s UAE country list) | Check the booking page for your emirate |
| Belgium, Denmark, Norway | Joint centre at Wafi Mall, Dubai | Check whether an Abu Dhabi slot is offered; otherwise go to Dubai |
| Lithuania | VFS Global, Abu Dhabi | Dubai or Abu Dhabi |
VFS Global Abu Dhabi: location and tips
- Address: Level B2 (lower ground floor), The Mall at World Trade Centre, Khalifa Bin Zayed the 1st Street, off Airport Road, Abu Dhabi.
- Parking: use the mall car park and allow time to walk to Level B2.
- Appointments only. Book on the VFS page for your destination. Each country has its own booking link and checklist.
- Arrive about 15 minutes early, not hours early.
- Al Ain and Al Dhafra residents: courier return saves a second long drive to collect the passport.
How to apply for a Schengen visa from Abu Dhabi: step by step
- Choose the right country: where you spend the most nights, or where you enter first if your nights are equal.
- Check the emirate on your residence visa and the centre that country uses for it (table above).
- Fill in the application form: France-Visas for France, or the consulate’s or centre’s form for other countries.
- Book the appointment at the Abu Dhabi centre, or the embassy for Poland.
- Attend with your documents: passport, residence visa, NOC, stamped bank statements, insurance, bookings. Give fingerprints and pay.
- Track your application and collect your passport, or have it couriered.
How much does it cost?
The same as in Dubai: the €90 visa fee in dirhams (about AED 385–395 for adults), plus the centre’s service fee. Spain’s BLS charges AED 73; the Netherlands’ VFS fee is AED 101.33. Poland charges only AED 388, with no service fee. See the full table in our Schengen visa fee guide.
When an Abu Dhabi resident must go to Dubai
- If the country you need runs only a Dubai centre, such as the joint Wafi Mall centre for some Nordic and Benelux countries.
- If the country lets any resident use either centre and Dubai has earlier slots, as Spain, the Netherlands and Portugal do.
For Germany and Italy, an Abu Dhabi visa holder can’t use Dubai, even if Dubai has slots.
Questions people ask
Where is the VFS Schengen centre in Abu Dhabi?
At The Mall, World Trade Centre Abu Dhabi, Level B2 (lower ground floor), on Khalifa Bin Zayed the 1st Street off Airport Road.
Can I apply for a Schengen visa in Dubai if my visa is from Abu Dhabi?
For some countries, yes: Spain, the Netherlands and Portugal accept either centre. Germany and Italy don’t. They require Abu Dhabi residence visa holders to apply in Abu Dhabi.
Where do I apply for a France visa in the UAE?
Only at VFS Global in Abu Dhabi (The Mall, World Trade Centre). This applies to residents of every emirate.
I live in Al Ain. Do I have to go to Abu Dhabi city?
Yes, for most Schengen countries. There’s no Schengen visa centre in Al Ain. Choose courier return to avoid a second trip.
Where is the Spain visa centre in Abu Dhabi?
BLS International, 13th floor, Tamouh Tower, Marina Square, Al Reem Island. Submission is 9 am to 3 pm, Monday to Friday.
Related guides
- Visa application centres in the UAE by country
- Schengen visa from Dubai and the UAE
- France Schengen visa from the UAE
- Germany Schengen visa from the UAE
Sources
- France-Visas: United Arab Emirates: france-visas.gouv.fr
- German Missions in the UAE: Schengen visa: uae.diplo.de
- BLS International: Spain visa centres in the UAE: uae.blsspainvisa.com
- Embassy of Poland in Abu Dhabi: C-type Schengen visa: gov.pl
- VFS Global: UAE region page: vfsglobal.com
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. Sifqa is not affiliated with VFS Global, BLS International or any embassy. Read the editorial policy.
Last checked 30 October 2026. Found an error? Email ionicwaleed@gmail.com and it will be fixed and logged.