11 January 2017
UAE residents can now apply for visas to Belgium in the city of Abu Dhabi

ABU DHABI: Residents of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) can now apply for visas to Belgium at a new visa application centre launched in Abu Dhabi. The centre was inaugurated by HE Ms Dominique Mineur, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Belgium to the United Arab Emirates, on 10 January 2017.

Abu Dhabi is the second city in the Middle East, after Riyadh in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, where applicants can apply for a visa to Belgium. The launch of a Belgium Visa Application Centre in Dubai will follow at a later date.

As part of our focused commitment towards the global rollout of Belgium Visa Application Centres, VFS Global launched the centrally located and modern centre in Abu Dhabi, for increased convenience and ease of visa applicants travelling from the UAE.

VFS Global currently serves the Government of the Kingdom of Belgium in 10 countries from 45 visa application centres, globally.

The new centre in Abu Dhabi is located at the Joint Visa Application Centre, Level 25, Shining Tower, Mubarak Bin Mohammed Street, Adjacent to Khalidiyah Mall, Abu Dhabi. Services at this location commenced on the 12th December 2016.

VFS Global offers visa services for 25 client governments in the UAE, since commencement of operations in the region in 2004.

Speaking at the launch, HE Ms Dominique Mineur, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Belgium to United Arab Emirates said, The launch of the new Visa Application Centre is a step forward in Belgium’s goal to serve our clients in a better and quicker way.  Abu Dhabi is the first step and Dubai will follow. Our collaboration with VFS Global is also part of a more global

plan to promote Belgium as an interesting country for tourism and business. Our collaboration with VFS Global is a long lasting and based worldwide, and I am convinced that together we can achieve these goals.”

Added Mr Vinay Malhotra, COO –Middle East & South Asia, VFS Global, “We are honoured to partner with the Government of the Kingdom of Belgium and further extend visa services in Abu Dhabi. It is also a great privilege to be a part of the journey towards advancement of travel between the beautiful country of Belgium and the UAE. We are confident the centre will help us achieve our common goal of providing added convenience and accessibility to UAE residents applying for a visa to Belgium.

The key features of the centre include:

  • Convenient and centrally-accessed location
  • Professional staff with local language capability to handle queries and applications
  • Well-appointed centre for enhanced comfort of applicants
  • Automated queue governance for smooth flow of applicants
  • Dedicated website for easy access to information including visa categories, requirements, check-list and applicable fees
  • 100% secure handling of passports, documents and personal information
  • Door-step delivery of passports
  • Premium Lounge for personalised and comfortable service

Belgium Visa Application Centre

Address: Shining Tower, Level 25, Mubarak Bin Mohammed Street, Adjacent to Khalidiyah Mall, Abu Dhabi. UAE
Helpline: +971 (0) 42055716   Email: info.belgiumuae@vfshelpline.com
Website: www.vfsglobal.com/belgium/uae

Business hours: 09:00hrs to 17:00hrs (Sunday to Thursday)
Submission Timings: 09:00hrs – 15:00hrs | Sunday - Thursday (except holidays as declared by the Belgium Embassy)
Passport Collection: 15:00hrs – 17:00hrs | Sunday - Thursday (except holidays as declared by the Belgium Embassy)

*VFS Global will be responsible only for accepting applications for the Embassy of the Kingdom of Belgium. All applications submitted will continue to be assessed and processed by the Embassy of the Kingdom of Belgium. Timelines for turnaround of visas are as per the discretion of the authorities.

About VFS Global 
VFS Global is the world's largest outsourcing and technology services specialist for governments and diplomatic missions worldwide. With 2318 Application Centres, operations in 127 countries across five continents and over 130 million applications processed as on
30 November 2016, VFS Global serves the interests of 51 client governments. VFS Global’s worldwide operations are certified ISO 9001:2008 for Quality Management System, ISO 27001:2013 for Information Security Management System and ISO 14001:2004 for Environmental Management System. For more information, please visit www.vfsglobal.com

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© Press Release 2017