Emiratis can travel to Israel without a visa

The Prime Minister of the Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, took to Twitter on Sunday to confirm the recent visa waiver exemption agreed on with the UAE.

As per an Israeli cabinet decision, UAE nationals can travel to Israel without having to pre-apply for visas.

“We have approved a visa waiver agreement between Israel and the United Arab Emirates,” tweeted Netanyahu.

מתחילים את השבוע בתנופה של עשייה:

✔️ אישרנו תוכנית סיוע בגובה של מיליארד ש״ח ליישובי עוטף עזה – חינוך, תשתיות, הקלות במס ועוד.

✔️ אישרנו הסכם פטור מוויזות בין ישראל לאיחוד האמירויות. כך נראה שלום תמורת שלום! זה חשוב לתיירות ולכלכלה המתפתחת בינינו.

— Benjamin Netanyahu (@netanyahu) November 22, 2020

“This is what peace for peace looks like. This is important for tourism and the economy that is developing between us.”

The visa exemption agreement with the UAE is Israel’s first-ever such agreement with an Arab country.

During a visit to Israel by a UAE delegation led by Minister of State for Financial Affairs, Obaid Humaid Al Tayer, last month, the UAE and Israel have signed agreements proposing reciprocal visa-free travel.

Etihad has confirmed that it will introduce daily scheduled year-round flights connecting Abu Dhabi-Tel Aviv starting March 28, 2021.

Read: Abu Dhabi’s Etihad and El Al Israel sign MoU to cooperate on codeshare and loyalty programme

Dubai-based carrier flydubai will also begin flights between Dubai and Tel Aviv from November 26, 2020, operating 14 flights a week and offering a double daily service between DXB and TLV.

Read: Dubai’s flydubai to operate 14 weekly flights to Tel Aviv