Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Abu Dhabi Shaikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Foreign Minister, told the Federal National Council yesterday (Tuesday) that the next 12 months will see “positive results” regarding the proposal to exempt UAE citizens from Schengen countries and visas.
“Our talks with the EU yielded that Schengen countries had agreed in principle to exempt Emiratis from entry visa. They submitted a motion to the commissioner concerned and we are waiting from a recommendation is submitted to the European parliament for approval,” Shaikh Abdullah said.
He added within the next 12 months, “there will be positive results,” hinting the visa requirement could be waived by the Schengen countries and UK, but stopping short of giving a definitive deadline. Japan too may be easing visa requirements, where diplomats will be granted visa-free entry and multiple-entry visas will be granted to citizens.
Shaikh Abdullah said that 55 countries were granting Emiratis visa-free entry, which fairly good but does not live up to our expectations.
A member of the Federal National Council demands that Emiratis be granted equal treatment by 34 countries whose citizens are granted visa on arrival.
Marwan Ahmad Bin Galitha, a member from Dubai, put a question to Shaikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al , on the outcome of the effort to exempt UAE citizens from visa requirements by these countries.
Shaikh Abdullah said in 2001 the cabinet had exempted citizens of 33 countries from entry visa to boost tourism. “Undoubtedly, the move was a great boost to tourism and the UAE was ranked last year the largest tourist destination in the Arab world.
Emiratis facing delays in obtaining a Schengen and other visas are demanding that the UAE government stop granting visas on arrival to citizens of countries that fail to apply equal treatment to UAE citizens.
Shaikh Abdullah said countries granted visa-free status softened their stand, when the UAE imposed visa on their diplomats unless they grant the UAE dimplomats equal treatment. ‘That was an indication that the nation would impose visa on citizens of countries which fail to grant the UAE equal treatment would lose their visa-free status.”
Bin Galitha suggested that the presence of Emiratis in visa service provider offices be boosted, which Shaikh Abdulllah said it was a good suggestion and it would be considered.
Visa free entry for citizens of 34 nations
Hong Kong, South Korea, Singapore, Japan, Malaysia, Brunei, United Kingdom, France, Liechtenstein, Germany, Holland Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Austria, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Paraguay, Ireland, Greece, Finland, Spain, Monaco, Vatican, Iceland, Andorra, San
By Samir Salama?Associate Editor
Gulf News 2013. All rights reserved.
