Russia and UAE sign visa-free travel agreement

On February 21 the Consulate General of the Russian Federation in Dubai and Northern Emirates arranges a press conference. Its theme was the entry into force on February 17 of the Agreement between the Governments of the Russian Federation and the United Arab Emirates on the mutual waiver of visa requirements for citizens of the two countries.

It was signed in June 2018 in Kazan, Russia. The peculiarity of the document is that now the owners of all types of passports (international, diplomatic) can stay without visas in Russia and in the UAE, respectively, up to 90 days.

The initiative of rapprochement belongs to the authorities of the United Arab Emirates. In February 2017, visas for Russian citizens arriving for tourist and other purposes for up to 30 days were unilaterally cancelled. After that, the number of visitors and tourists from Russia has increased significantly and in 2018 in Dubai alone reached a record figure of 1 million people.

Oleg Fomin, Consul General of the Russian Federation in Dubai And Northern Emirates:

"We expect that the Agreement will increase the intensity of delegation exchanges, which will undoubtedly affect the level of bilateral relations in general, will serve as an impulse to ensure that more tourists from the United Arab Emirates come to Russia, will help to simplify and accelerate all business processes between our countries, will allow to develop cooperation in the field of education, science, business and culture."

He added that this historic event gives a "green light" to mutual cooperation in all areas.