Ireland grants visa-free entry to UAE passport holders

UAE nationals will soon be able to travel to Ireland without a visa following the easing of travel restrictions.

Ireland’s minister of justice and equality Charlie Flanagan signed an order approving the change on Tuesday after leading a trade mission to the UAE.

It will come into effect on January 31.

“The UAE is a key economic partner for Ireland and one of our priority markets,” said Flanagan.

“I am very pleased we have been able to lift the visa requirement for citizens of the UAE who wish to travel to Ireland and we look forward to welcoming increased numbers of Emirati business people, students and tourists who will travel to Ireland following the lifting of the visa requirement.”

The move increases visa-free travel options for Emiratis just weeks after China removed a pre-entry visa requirement for UAE passport holders.

Read: UAE citizens can now visit China without a visa

The emirates climbed six places to 32nd on citizenship firm Henley & Partners’ 2018 passport index with visa-free travel to 134 countries, up from 121 the previous year.

Henley said the UAE passport had seen the biggest historical climb of any in the world having gained 29 places over the last decade.

As members of the European Union, Irish passport holders can already travel to the UAE without a visa.