EU Agreement: Emiratis Can Travel to Schengen Area Without Visa

Citizens of the United Arab Emirates can travel to 34 European countries, including 28 Schengen member states, without a visa starting Thursday. This has been referred to by the media in the UAE as a 'diplomatic victory' for the Emirates. Emirati media reported on Wednesday that diplomats from the UAE and the European Union finally signed the visa waiver agreement for Emirati citizens traveling to Schengen countries in Brussels. According to this agreement, Emiratis can now travel to Schengen member countries for up to three months without needing a Schengen visa. The news website 'Middle East Eye' reflected the statements of Suleiman Hamid Al-Mazrouei, the UAE ambassador to the EU, who said: 'This is a historic moment in the relations between the United Arab Emirates and the European Union... The effort to achieve the Schengen visa waiver agreement began three years ago. Today, this effort has successfully culminated in the signing of such an agreement at the EU Council.' It took about a year for this plan to be implemented after the European Parliament approved the exemption for Emirati citizens from obtaining a Schengen visa. The European Parliament approved the plan last June with 523 votes in favor and 54 against. The newspaper 'Gulf News' published in the UAE reported that more than 500 flights operate weekly between the UAE and EU member countries. The trade volume between the UAE and the EU is also around $50 billion annually, which is expected to increase with today's agreement in Brussels.