Planning a trip to the UK this summer? Get ready to pay more. The UK government is increasing visa fees across multiple categories, starting April 9, 2025. Whether you’re visiting for tourism, medical treatment, study, or business, your visa will now cost extra.

How Much More Will You Pay?

From April 9, visa fees will rise by 10%, with key changes including:

• 6-month Visit Visa – £127 (up from £115)
• 2-year Visit Visa – £475 (up by £43)
• 5-year Visit Visa – £848 (up by £77)
• 10-year Visit Visa – £1,059 (up by £96)

What About Emirati Travellers?

Good news for Emiratis! They can still apply for an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) instead of a standard visa. However, the ETA fee is also increasing from £10 to £16. This allows multiple visits of up to six months at a time over two years.

Why Is the UK a Hot Destination for UAE Travellers?

Despite the fee hike, the UK remains a top choice for UAE residents, thanks to easy visa appointments, multiple-entry visas, and strong air connectivity with major cities like London, Glasgow, and Birmingham.

If you’re travelling from Dubai to London, your plans may be disrupted, London Heathrow Airport has closed for the entire day due to a fire that caused a major power outage and most flights to and from the destination will be rescheduled. As a result, all Emirates flights from Dubai to Heathrow on Friday, March 21, have been cancelled.

Disruption at Heathrow may last up to a week before returning to normal, according to Paul Charles, CEO of PC Agency, a leading travel consultancy based in London.

Emirates Flights Affected

• EK001/002 (DXB-LHR-DXB)
• EK029/030 (DXB-LHR-DXB)
• EK031/032 (DXB-LHR-DXB)
• EK003/004 (DXB-LHR-DXB)
• EK005/006 (DXB-LHR-DXB)

Additionally, passengers connecting through Dubai onto Heathrow flights will not be accepted for travel until further notice.

What Should Affected Passengers Do?

If your flight has been cancelled, Emirates is offering rebooking options, allowing passengers to:

• Fly to an alternative UK airport (such as Manchester or Gatwick).
• Reschedule their flight to Heathrow on a later date.

If you booked directly with Emirates, you can manage your booking online. Those who booked through a travel agent should contact their agent for rebooking assistance.

Dubai Airports Confirms Flight Disruptions

Dubai Airports confirmed that eight outbound flights from DXB to LHR, along with one inbound flight, were cancelled. They advised passengers to check with their airlines for the latest updates before heading to Dubai International Airport.

British Airways Also Cancels Flights

British Airways has also advised passengers not to travel to Heathrow on Friday. The airline is working on providing affected customers with alternative travel options for the next 24 hours.

Stay Updated

Passengers flying from Dubai to London should:

• Check their flight status before heading to DXB.
• Visit the Emirates website for rebooking options.
• Stay in touch with their airline for further updates.

(Source: X, GN, emirates.com, CNN)

Dubai’s flagship airline Emirates is preparing for a significant increase in passenger traffic ahead of Eid Al Fitr, expecting over 80,000 travellers per day to depart from Dubai International Airport’s Terminal 3 on the peak days of March 28, March 29, and April 5 and 6. 

The airline advises passengers to arrive at least three hours before departure and to account for possible congestion around the airport. 

In addition, Emirates has announced new destinations as part of its fleet expansion. 

The newly delivered Airbus aircraft will begin operations in the following cities: 

• Tunis – Six weekly flights (from June 1)
• Amman – Daily flight (from June 1)
• Istanbul – Daily flight (from July 1)
• Dammam – Daily flight (from July 1)
• Ho Chi Minh City – Daily flight (from August 1)
• Baghdad – Three weekly flights (from August 3)
• Oslo – Daily flight (from September 1)
• Further new destinations, including long-haul routes, will be announced in the coming months as additional aircraft join Emirates’ fleet.
• (Source: Wam)