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United Arab Emirates → Spain

Migration corridor · visas, permits and flows

From
United Arab Emirates
To
Spain
Inflow 2023—OECD
Year by year
Data as at 2025
CR<ESUNITED<ARAB<EMIRATES<SPAIN<<<<<<<<<<<<<
AE2<ES2<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<8

Migration from the United Arab Emirates to Spain

Inflows of nationals of the United Arab Emirates recorded by Spain; stock of nationals of the United Arab Emirates living there; and acquisitions of Spain's nationality (OECD).

Inflows by year

214220002003200620092012201520182019
2142200020042008201220162019
Data table
20003
20010
20024
20033
20041
20052
20064
20072
20084
20096
20102
201113
20128
201312
201415
201510
201626
201730
201819
201942
YearInflowStockAcquired nationality
2023———
2022——2
2021——1
2020—1611
201942127—
201819108—
201730901
201625671
2015957—
20141544—
20131239—
20128331
20111328—
2010236—
Source: OECD, International Migration Database (OECD.ELS.IMD), accessed 24 Oct 2026Data as at 2023

Spain's consulates in the United Arab Emirates

Short-stay Schengen (C) visa applications at Spain's consulates located in the United Arab Emirates.

YearApplicationsIssuedNot issuedRefusal rate
202424,79919,4204,48218.1%
202326,02320,3374,76018.3%
202223,41916,9215,49623.5%
20219,3816,5012,19123.4%
20204,0363,02244311.0%
201922,14717,5392,92813.2%
201819,99915,9322,75113.8%
201714,83811,7652,18314.7%
201617,46914,6731,92111.0%
201515,67213,6611,3258.5%
201416,84414,2251,71210.2%
201312,99210,9399677.4%
201213,08611,5893953.0%
201111,65210,7503072.6%
20109,4058,649560.6%
20097,3266,4004446.1%

Applications by year

13k26k2009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024
13k26k200920122015201820212024
Data table
20097,326
20109,405
201111,652
201213,086
201312,992
201416,844
201515,672
201617,469
201714,838
201819,999
201922,147
20204,036
20219,381
202223,419
202326,023
202424,799
Source: European Commission, DG Migration and Home Affairs, visa statistics for consulates (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 2024

Residence permits in Spain

First residence permits issued by Spain to citizens of the United Arab Emirates (Eurostat).

First permits by reason, 2025
  1. Education38
  2. Work12
  3. Other reasons9
  4. Family2
YearFirst permitsEU Blue CardsCitizenships acquiredStudents
202561000
20247111503
20236700347
20225902297
20214101261
20203301212
20195000147
20182000115
2017200192
2016130176
201540000
201420000
2013190021
201227000
201187000
201042000
Work permits by type, 2025
  1. Highly skilled workers (national schemes)10
  2. Other paid activities2
Valid residence permits, 31 Dec 2025
143
Long-term residence permits issued, 2025
23
Source: Eurostat (migr_resfirst, migr_resbc11, migr_acq, educ_uoe_mobs02, migr_eirfs, migr_pop1ctz), CC BY 4.0Data as at 2025

Embassy and consulates

Missions of Spain in the United Arab Emirates, as recorded in Wikidata. Details change; the mission's official website is authoritative.

MissionCityOfficial website
EmbassyAbu Dhabiexteriores.gob.es
Source: Wikidata (CC0)Data as at Oct 2026

Compared with other corridors

Nationalities with the most arrivals in Spain, 2023; the United Arab Emirates ranks 100.

Inflows to Spain, 2023
  1. Colombia170,722
  2. Morocco123,468
  3. Venezuela88,361
  4. Peru66,933
  5. Italy48,089
  6. Romania45,663
  7. Argentina35,041
  8. Ukraine34,385
  9. Honduras32,357
  10. Paraguay24,324
  11. Ecuador21,762
  12. Russia21,617
Other destinations for people from the United Arab Emirates, 2023
  1. Australia1,062
  2. Germany746
  3. South Korea386
  4. Türkiye130
  5. Japan67
  6. United States50
  7. Canada25
  8. New Zealand21
  9. Israel16
  10. France12
Source: OECD, International Migration Database (OECD.ELS.IMD), accessed 24 Oct 2026Data as at 2023

Official data, not advice. Visa Atlas publishes figures from government registers and statistics. It does not assess eligibility or give immigration advice; for advice, consult a regulated adviser. Read more