UAE citizens can now travel visa-free to the Bahamas

The UAE and the Commonwealth of the Bahamas have signed an MoU for a bilateral visa waiver on Sunday.

According to the agreement, UAE citizens holding diplomatic, special, service and ordinary passports will be exempt from an entry visa when travelling to the Bahamas, official news agency WAM reported.

Citizens of the Bahamas will also be able to travel visa-free to the UAE.

The two countries also signed an MoU on “political consultations”, as part of which they will hold regular meetings to discuss bilateral relations and issues of mutual concern.

Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation said the UAE and the Bahamas enjoy “historical relations based on mutual understanding and respect.”

He stressed the need to further consolidate the relations between the two countries and build new bridges of cooperation.

Emirati citizens face the least amount of travel restrictions among their peers in the MENA region with a visa-waiver agreement with the European Union also taking effect last year.

Also read: Why certain passports have more visa-free options

The UAE became the first Arab country and the second in the Middle East to receive an EU visa waiver.

Read more: EU Visa Waiver Agreement For Emiratis Takes Effect

In August, it was also announced that UAE citizens no longer need to apply for pre-entry visas when travelling to Botswana. Emiratis holding special, mission and regular passports can travel visa-free to the African country and stay for a period not exceeding 90 days.

Read more: UAE citizens exempt from pre-entry visas for Botswana

Also in May this year, Belarus announced that UAE nationals would be exempt from entry visa requirements for up to 30 days.