There’s exciting news for UAE passport holders as the UAE travel document is soon to get much better when another prime tourist destination opens its doors for Emirati travelers after respective governments have signed a visa waiver agreement.
The new prospective visa-free travel destination is in the heart of Micronesia, as confirmed by the UAE government after it has signed an agreement on Thursday with the Republic of Kiribati to exempt their nationals from obtaining an entry visa for each other’s territories.
UAE Passport Holder? Here’s Your Next Visa-Free Travel
The important measure was signed on the sidelines of the 74th Session of the UN General Assembly, the agreement was overseen by Reem bint Ibrahim Al Hashemy, Minister of State for International Cooperation, and Beretitenti Taneti Maamau, President of the Republic of Kiribati, as shared in a report by the Khaleej Times.
The said agreement will come into effect on October 23 and is expected to facilitate travel between the two countries and encourage increased bilateral exchange.
With the expected addition of the Republic of Kiribati, the list of visa-free countries will increase to 156 on top of the other nations that have already forged bilateral agreements with the UAE including:
- Albania
- Andorra
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Argentina
- Armenia
- Austria
- Bahamas
- Bahrain
- Belarus
- Belgium
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Botswana
- Brunei
- Bulgaria
- Burkina Faso
- Canada
- Chad
- Chile
- China
- Colombia
- Costa Rica
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Dominica
- Dominican Republic
- Ecuador
- Egypt
- El Salvador
- Estonia
- Fiji
- Finland
- France
- Gambia
- Georgia
- Germany
- Greece
- Grenada
- Guatemala
- Haiti
- Honduras
- Hong Kong
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Indonesia
- Ireland
- Italy
- Jordan
- Kazakhstan
- Kosovo
- Kuwait
- Kyrgyzstan
- Latvia
- Lebanon
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Macedonia
- Malaysia
- Mali
- Malta
- Mauritius
- Micronesia
- Moldova
- Monaco
- Montenegro
- Morocco
- Nauru
- Netherlands
- New Zealand
- Nicaragua
- Norway
- Oman
- Palestinian territories
- Panama
- Philippines
- Poland
- Portugal
- Republic of Kiribati*
- Romania
- Saint Kitts and Nevis
- Saint Lucia
- San Marino
- Sao Tome and Principe
- Saudi Arabia
- Senegal
- Serbia
- Seychelles
- Singapore
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Solomon Islands
- South Korea
- Spain
- St Vincent and the Grenadines
- Sudan
- Swaziland
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Syria
- Thailand
- Tonga
- Tunisia
- Ukraine
- Uruguay
- Vanuatu
- Vatican City
Source: Gulf News, 2018
Note: These do not include countries with an e-visa requirement or visa on arrival procedure.
This is going to be exciting for Emiratis and UAE passport holders because Kiribati is one of the few places in the world where there are plenty of untouched beaches, but only a few people who visit. That being said, visitors are expected to do without the typical luxuries offered by other beach places such as Tahiti or Hawaii. It’s going to be pretty much between you and nature here.
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