It's Official: UAE gets Schengen visa waiver

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the European Union (EU) have signed a reciprocal bilateral short-stay visa waiver agreement exempting the UAE citizens from Schengen visa and making the UAE the first Arab country to receive such a visa waiver for its nationals.

From today, citizens of the United Arab Emirates who hold diplomatic, special, service and ordinary passports will be able to travel without a visa to 34 European countries for stays of up to 90 days (within any 180-day period of one year).

The UAE Ambassador to the EU, Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg and Belgium, Sulaiman Hamid Al Mazroui, and the Permanent Representative of Latvia to the EU, Ilze Juhansone, whose country holds the rotating presidency of the EU, signed the reciprocal bilateral short-stay visa waiver agreement in Brussels.

Assistant Foreign Minister for Legal Affairs, Abdul Rahim Yousef Al Awadhi; Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) Mohammed Mir Al Raissi; Director of Consular Services at MoFA, Ambassador Ahmed Elham Al Dhaheri; Director of the Communications Department at MoFA Mariam Al Falasi; and members of the UAE Embassy in Brussels attended the signing ceremony.

Al Raissi extended greetings to the leadership and people of the UAE on "this historic achievement which demonstrates the respect the UAE enjoys in the international community and the close cooperation with the EU."

He added that the exemption came as a success for the UAE diplomacy and as a result of the close follow up by Foreign Minister H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Dr. Anwar bin Mohammed Gargash, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs.

On the factors that accelerated the decision to exempt UAE citizens from Schengen visa requirement, Al Raissi said: "The UAE doesn't have illegal immigrants seeking jobs in Europe. Moreover, the UAE is considered an oasis of security and safety. He also attributed it to the growing trade exchange, mutual interests and increasing number of flights between the UAE and EU."

In a speech delivered after the signing, Ambassador Sulaiman Hamid Al Mazroui said waiving off the Schengen visa will provide the privilege to the UAE citizens to travel to 34 states and principalities in Europe.

He indicated that the waiver will include travelling with any of the UAE valid passports without having to undertake any online procedures or file any applications. The Schengen visa allows the UAE citizen multiple entries and a stay up to 90 days within a period of 6 months or 180 days in the Schengen zone.

"This achievement puts the icing on the cake and complements the already strong and growing bonds between the UAE and the European Union. It will no doubt improve many fields such as trade, investment, tourism and cultural exchanges. It also recognizes the leading role of the UAE in all aspects in the region. Today, I would like to extend a warm congratulation to the leadership of the UAE and its people who aspire to always enjoy the best.

"I would also like to extend my sincere thanks and gratitude to His Highness Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Foreign Minister, for his leadership. Thanks to him, this initiative places the UAE in a unique position in the Arab World. A sincere thanks and appreciation go also to His Excellency Dr. Anwar Gargash, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, for his continuous help and understanding. I am also indebted to all of those who contributed to this unique achievement in the European Union, the European Commission, the European Parliament and the Council. The same goes for the UAE friendship group in the European Parliament."

He also said, "This achievement would not have been realized without the support of my colleagues in the Foreign Ministry and UAE Ambassadors in the EU, as well as my colleagues in the UAE Embassy in Brussels and our consultants."

'Exemption of UAE citizens from Schengen visa is evidence of EU’s confidence in UAE and its citizens'

Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Foreign Minister, on Wednesday offered his congratulations to the President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, Their Highnesses, the Members of the Supreme Council and Rulers and to the UAE people on the decision taken on Wednesday by the European Parliament to exempt UAE citizens from the need to apply for entry visas to the Schengen group of countries.

This achievement, Sheikh Abdullah said, is the latest in a series of continuous successes that have been recorded by the country in various areas since it was established by the Father of the Nation in 1971. It also represents a recognition by the EU Parliament of the status achieved by the UAE and of the successes in past years that have served as a source of inspiration for many other countries in the region.

He added that the passing of the resolution by the EU Parliament represented a major achievement for UAE diplomacy, which has proven itself to be an example of distinguished performance, thanks to its basic characteristics, which include mobility and flexibility, the exertion of influence, making use of planning and a comprehensive approach to work and the ability to achieve the supreme national interests, both internally and externally.

Sheikh Abdullah said that this is not the first time that UAE diplomacy has recorded significant achievements, as shown by the important and effective role that it had played in the successful bid by the UAE to host the forthcoming International Energy Conference in 2019, the bid by Dubai to host the 2020 World Eexpo and the bid for Abu Dhabi in 2009 to host the headquarters of the International Renewable Energy Agency (Irena).

He said the decision of the European Parliament did not emerge in a vacuum and had not been easily achieved, noting that it  had been supported by a wise policy and a proven leadership that had promoted itself through its vivid and positive image abroad. This, he said, had made the UAE a symbol of wisdom, moderation, co-existence, peace and openness, while, at the same time, it was an example of the efforts being exerted to serve the UAE's citizens, a pioneering example of development which others try to follow.

Sheikh Abdullah said that the UAE is proving, day by day, that it is really a homeland of prosperity and happiness. "Our UAE citizens", he said, "have the full right to feel proud of their leadership, which exerts every possible effort to take care of their welfare internally as well as anywhere else in the world, and to be genuinely loyal to our dear country, which provides its citizens with a decent life that conforms to high international standards. The leadership puts the citizens at the forefront of all its present and future development projects", he noted.

He went on to say that exemption of the UAE from the Schengen visa process has many positive benefits to the UAE citizen, since it will now be much easier for UAE citizens to travel within the European states which are members of the Schengen Agreement. It will also save a lot of time, effort and money as well as saving them from the long procedures to obtain entry visas from these countries. "It will also allow our students more opportunity to know European universities better and choose whichever suits them best in the pursuit of their education", he noted.

Sheikh Abdullah re-affirmed the desire of the UAE to establish effective and strong relations with important regional groupings, in the forefront of which is the European Union, within the framework of the country's active foreign policy, which seeks to build relations with all countries, to serve the supreme national interest and to enhance its presence both regionally and internationally.

Sheikh Abdullah recalled that, as part of the development of UAE-European relations, the European Union has opened a diplomatic mission in Abu Dhabi. He also mentioned the Friends of the UAE Society, linking the EU and the UAE, noting that this is testimony to the genuine respect of the EU for the UAE and for its wise policies and keenness to build cooperation and coordination in various fields locally, besides taking the opportunity to offer the UAE’s experience in development as a pioneering example both regionally and internationally.

He praised the admirable behaviour of UAE citizens while visiting European countries, noting that they had been excellent ambassadors for their country, providing examples of the country’s status in various fields. This, Sheikh Abdullah noted, "has been a decisive factor in the decision to exempt UAE citizens from the Schengen visa requirement."

The UAE Foreign Minister reiterated his praise of the exemplary behaviour of the UAE citizens and their high standard of behaviour in respecting the rules and regulations of the countries they were visiting, adding that this showed the way in which they displayed tolerance and openness towards other cultures and peoples.

He extended his thanks to the Friends of the UAE in the EU Parliament,  UAE Ambassadors in member countries,  the relevant departments at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the UAE Mission in Brussels as well as to any others who had helped to achieve this strategic mission.

'Exemption of UAE citizens from Schengen visa is evidence of UAE's distinguished presence across world'

Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan, National Security Advisor and Deputy Chairman of Abu Dhabi Executive Council, has congratulated the President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan,  His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, Supreme Council Members, Their Highnesses Rulers of the Emirates as well as the UAE people on the great achievement attained by the country, namely the decision taken today by the European Parliament to exempt the UAE citizens from any need to apply for entry visas to the Schengen group of countries.

He said the outstanding success of the UAE diplomacy represented in Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Foreign Minister, and his teamwork, "is the fruit of the relentless work for years, in which the country, under its wise leadership, has won respect, love and appreciation of the whole world and now all doors of the world are open for Emiratis who contributed to this success through representing their country abroad until they became a role model in the field of respecting other countries' laws and procedures."

He added, "Today, we are harvesting one of the fruits of the march begun by  late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan who consolidated the country's status in the world."

He went on to say, ''The reason behind all these successes is that we put the country's interest as a priority and we all work to achieve the vision of the  President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, with the aim to advance the aspects of national and advanced state that provides all facilitations to its citizens to further development and open up wider horizons for them to be the best representatives of their country abroad."

Sheikh Hazza also highlighted the march of the UAE's diplomacy which established the Emirates Diplomatic Academy, stressing that "this important step would have the impact in creating a generation of Emirati diplomats, a move that coincides with our increasing presence across the world."  

 EARLIER REPORT

Final decision on Schengen Visa exemption for UAE expected today

The European Union is expected to announce the visa exemption for UAE nationals visiting the Schengen region today, a decision awaiting to be rubber-stamped this morning in Brussels.

Speaking on the occasion, Ambassador Carlo De Filippi, Head of the EU Delegation to the UAE, said "I am very happy that the short-stay visa to the EU has been waived for United Arab Emirates citizens who travel to the Schengen zone for short stays as well as for all EU citizens travelling to the UAE. This is a milestone that will strengthen relations between our peoples and give a boost to both tourism industries and the economy as a whole."

The exemption will allow Emirati citizens easy access and travel to, and around, 34 European countries: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Sweden, Malta, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Switzerland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Hungary, Slovenia, Croatia, Bulgaria, Romania, Liechtenstein, Cyprus, Norway, Portugal, Spain, the Vatican, Andorra, San Marino and Monaco.

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