Emiratis Visa Free travel updates

[Khafee]

Superpower China waives visa restrictions for Emiratis
By Staff Writer
21 December 2017

According to Arton Capital's latest ranking, the UAE passport is ranked 26th globally with a visa-free score of 126.

The UAE and China have signed a memorandum of understanding to exempt Emiratis from obtaining pre-entry visas to visit the country as a tourist.

Starting from January 16, 2018, UAE citizens can visit China without getting a pre-entry visa and stay for up to 30 days per visit, state news agency WAM reported.
It is the latest boost to the UAE passport which remains the most powerful in the Middle East.

According to Arton Capital's latest ranking, the UAE passport is ranked 26th globally with a visa-free score of 126.

Ahmed Saeed Elham Al Dhaheri, Assistant Under-Secretary for Consular Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation for UAE, said that the move by the Chinese Government reflects the stature attained by the UAE.

He added that it also contributes to strengthening bilateral relations and opening new avenues for growing tourism and trade between the two countries.

The UAE and China established diplomatic relations in November 1984. The UAE opened its embassy in Beijing in March, 1987 and also opened consulates in Hong Kong in April 2000, Shanghai in July, 2006, and in Guangzhou in June, 2016.

China opened its embassy in Abu Dhabi in April 1985 and its consulate in Dubai in November 1988.

Two-way trade between the UAE and China has already crossed $35 billion in the first nine months of the 2017 as the global powerhouse looks to boost trade links with
the country.

The two countries are looking to build on bilateral economic relations which totalled $46.3 billion in the whole of 2016, officials said at a recent seminar at the Dubai World Trade Club.
“Chinese companies are now participating in the UAE’s development activities in a bigger way as bilateral trade has crossed $35 billion in the first nine months of the current year and is expected to surpass last year,” said Lei Jin, economic and commercial counsellor at the Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China in Dubai.

http://www.aviationbusinessme.com/airports/2017/dec/21/450908/

 

[Khafee]

Emiratis exempt from pre-entry visas to visit China as of 16th January 2018
ABU DHABI, 19th December, 2017 (WAM) --

The UAE and China have signed a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, to exempt UAE nationals carrying regular passports from obtaining pre-entry visas, with the possibility of staying for up to 30 days on each visit, starting from 16th January, 2018.

The MoU was signed on Tuesday in Abu Dhabi by Ahmed Saeed Elham Al Dhaheri, Assistant Under-Secretary for Consular Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation for UAE, and Ni Jian, Ambassador of the People's Republic of China to the UAE.
Al Dhaheri said that from 16th January, 2018, UAE citizens can visit China without getting a pre-entry visa and stay for up to 30 days per visit.

Al Dhaheri added that the move by the Chinese Government reflects the stature attained by the UAE and contributes to strengthening bilateral relations and opening new avenues for growing tourism and trade between the two friendly countries.
"The UAE has become a model for good governance, moderation and peaceful co-existence and a symbol for achievement and excellence at the international levels," he said.

He also noted that the welfare of the UAE citizens features as a priority in the wise leadership's vision.

The UAE and China established diplomatic relations in November 1984. The UAE opened its embassy in Beijing on 19th March, 1987. It also opened consulates in Hong Kong on April 2000, Shanghai on 6th July, 2006, and in Guangzhou on 13th June, 2016.

China opened its embassy in Abu Dhabi in April 1985 and its consulate in Dubai in November 1988.

http://wam.ae/en/details/1395302655323

 

[Khafee]

Emiratis no longer require pre-entry visa to visit Ukraine
The rules will come into effect on December 31

The National
December 28, 2017


Emiratis will no longer need a pre-entry visa to visit Ukraine as of December 31.

Holders of ordinary UAE passports can now enter the country on a visa on arrival with the possibility of staying for up to 30 days on each visit.

Diplomatic and private passport holders can stay for 90 days within 180 days, Wam reported.

The move follows a deal that was signed between the UAE and Ukraine on November 2.

Ahmed Al Dhaheri, assistant under-secretary for consular affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, said the new relaxation of visa regulations reflected the prominent international status the UAE had attained.

It also enhances bilateral relations between the two countries across tourism, investment and trade, he said.

https://www.thenational.ae/uae/emiratis-no-longer-require-pre-entry-visa-to-visit-ukraine-1.691084

 

[Khafee]

UAE passport is 'biggest climber' in Middle East, occupies 33rd place



January 09, 2018 | Last updated on January 9, 2018 at 02.38 pm

UAE passport saw the biggest climb of any country in the world over 10 years

The UAE passport has emerged as the biggest climber in the Middle East, offering visa-free travel to 133 countries, according to latest rankings released on Tuesday.

Germany held on to the 1st place on the Henley Passport Index for the fifth year running, with its citizens enjoying visa-free access to 177 countries in total, up from 176 countries in 2017.

Singapore stood 2nd globally on the 2018 edition of the index, with visa-free access to 176 countries, while eight countries - Denmark, Finland, France, Italy, Japan, Norway, Sweden, and the UK - sharing the 3rd place, offering passport-holders access to 175 countries.

In the Middle East region, the UAE has climbed an impressive 28 places on the index - the biggest climb of any country in the world over a decade.

The UAE passport ranked 33rd in the 2018 edition, offers visa-free travel to 133 countries - up from 121 countries in 2017, gaining access to 12 new destinations in just one year.

Check the entire list of 2018 global ranking

The UAE's success is linked to the fact that, between 1999 and 2018, visa restrictions on Emirati citizens have been lifted by countries such as New Zealand, Argentina, Chile, Ukraine, and China, as well as those in the Schengen area. In the wider GCC region, all member countries significantly improved their positions and ranked within the top 70 positions on the index. Kuwait moved up to 58th position, with access to 83 countries visa-free and Bahrain ranked 63rd, offering its citizens visa-free access to 75 countries. Oman (65th) and Saudi Arabia (67th) followed closely behind, with visa-free access to 71 and 69 countries, respectively.

Meanwhile, on the other end of the spectrum, Iraq has lost 15 places on the index over the past 10 years, Yemen 17 places, and Syria 20 places. Syria and Iraq, ranked 102nd and 103rd in the world, respectively, are the poorest performers in the region, and they also both fall in the bottom five globally. Syria dropped one place from 2017, now offering its citizens visa-free travel access to just 28 countries. However, Iran has managed to improve its rank over the past decade, escaping the bottom four rankings in the 2018 edition.

For the second year in a row, Pakistan, Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan sit at the bottom of the Henley Passport Index, each able to access 30 or fewer countries visa-free.

https://www.khaleejtimes.com/nation...st-climber-in-middle-east-occupies-33rd-place