Emiratis allowed visa-free travel to Schengen area

This came during a meeting held today in Strasbourg with a majority vote of 523 out of 577 EU representatives. The EU’s endorsement of the visa waiver status for UAE citizens travelling to Schengen Area is deemed as crucial stage which will be followed by setting up of a mechanism to implement the decision.

The procedural arrangements to put the decision in to effect will start by setting up of a joint working team of the UAE and EU, who will implement the decision as soon as possible.

The team will intensify its efforts to speed up the procedure of the implementation of decision as a prelude to the final announcement to allow UAE citizens visa free travel to Schengen Area.

Dr Anwar bin Mohammed Gargash, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs from Strasbourg congratulated the President, His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan and His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai for this great achievement saying that this historic vote is the result of two years of organised and relentless work which was diligently led by Shaikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Foreign Minister, who followed all its stages from the beginning.

Today’s vote is a reflection of the good reputation enjoyed by the UAE and its achievements on the regional and global levels, Mr. Gargash stated and added that the UAE will be the first Arab country who got visa waiver for Schengen countries.

He remarked that concrete achievement of the citizens will make it easier for them to travel freely and move in 27 European countries in implementation to the UAE approach that put Emirati citizens as a priority for its efforts and activities.

He added that what has been achieved today came through comprehensive and collective efforts led by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and its diplomatic missions abroad in addition to the country’s concerned institutions, particularly the Ministry of Interior.

He concluded by hailing the important role played by Mr. Sulaiman Hamed Al Mazroui, UAE Ambassador to Belgium and embassy staff there.

The decision affirms UAE’s strong and strategic political and economic relations with EU, where the trade and investment between the parties have exceeded to 50 billion Euros.

The number of return flights between the UAE and Europe have reached 508 weekly and there are more than 160,000 EU citizens living in the UAE, in addition to over 1.64 million visitors who come to the UAE annually according to 2012 figures.