Assalaamualaikum and Bienvenido a Espana

With a rich Muslim heritage, two of the world’s sexiest football teams and a host of luxury beachside hotspots, Spain is potentially the biggest benefactor of the recent UAE Schengen visa waiver agreement.

“Arabs love football, and they especially love Real Madrid and Barcelona, more than their own football teams in their own countries,” says Marwan Ahmed Saeed, cofounder of KingFut.com, one of the Arab world’s largest English-language sports portals. “It has always been very sad that to go and watch one of these games means a lengthy visa process for most Arabs, but not anymore for UAE citizens. They are extremely lucky.”

The agreement, completed with a ceremonial signing May 6 by UAE ambassador to the EU Sulaiman Hamid Al Mazroui, means UAE citizens can now simply pop over to catch a glimpse of their Latin idols, Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi, with nothing more in hand than a valid UAE passport.

“Before, if an Emirate citizen wanted to come over for a weekend to watch football, it was a very long process. There is bound to be a surge in UAE sports tourists to Spain. The easy access has made Spain very attractive,” says Yusuf Sanchez, managing director of Bab Al-Andalus Luxury Travel, a wholesale travel service provider based in Spain, catering specifically for the Arab market.   

The impact of the agreement is set to be significant. A report by the World Travel and Tourism Council suggests visa easing can see a 24 percent increase in tourist arrivals. In addition, the 2014 Visa Affluent Index puts the UAE amongst Asia’s highest nonessential spenders.

While all 26 Schengen Area countries will benefit from the new agreement, Spain holds the biggest draw, even without the football. It has a unique history that includes almost eight centuries of Muslim rule.

The Islamic history of Spain stretches back to 711 AD when the Moors first made their way across from North Africa. Over the next seven hundred years or so, the Muslim empires that flourished in Spain created one of Islamic history’s Golden Ages in cities that still bear their mark.

Important monuments like the Mezquita de Córdoba (Mosque of Córdoba), now a cathedral, are a direct legacy of the Spanish Caliphate that ruled here – a history that many Muslims around the world are beginning to rediscover.

It is this history that Bab Al-Andalus Luxury Travel sells best. Since starting his company three years ago, Sanchez, who provides heritage tours and real estate to operators across the Middle East and North Africa, has witnessed a sharp hike in interest from the Arab world.

“There is a definite rise in interest,” says Sanchez. “Only the other day when I was walking around Seville with clients, I was amazed to see so many hijabs being worn by the tourists. Muslims are increasingly choosing Spain as a destination, and I think this interest will only grow now. We have witnessed a rise in the number of bookings recently and expect this to continue to increase.”

Beyond heritage and football, there are also Spain’s numerous luxury and beach hotspots along its vast coastal areas. Travel experts say these will also be a huge draw for UAE travelers, especially younger ones.

“You are probably more likely to see investment by younger UAE travelers in beach and luxury hotspots like Marbella and Barcelona, with destinations such as Granada or Córdoba nearby to visit,” says Nabeel Shariff, the founder of Serendipity Tailormade, which provides “tailored halal” packages to Muslim clients in the UK and U.S. .

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