UAE citizens will not require visas to visit UK from 2023

UAE nationals will not require a visa to visit the UK from the year 2023.

The UAE was added to the UK’s list of countries eligible for its new Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system, removing visa restrictions for UAE passport holders to the country from 2023. The decision is expected to further cement the UK as a tourist destination for Emiratis.

1\? UK TRAVEL UPDATE ?
The UAE has been added to the UK’s list of countries eligible for its Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system, removing existing visa restrictions.

From 2023, Emirati nationals will no longer need a visa to visit the UK.

— UAE Embassy UK (@UAEEmbassyUK) June 27, 2022

Granting the UAE greater access to the UK will also strengthen the economic and diplomatic ties between the two countries. The directive, which was announced by the UK Home Office and is part of the UK Government’s move to a fully digital border by the end of 2025, has been extended to other GCC countries as well.

The UAE is one of the UK’s most important trading partners in the region. Through the signing of the Partnership for the Future and the Sovereign Investment Partnership last year, the UAE and UK continue to strengthen collaboration across a variety of areas, official news agency WAM reported.

Mansoor Abulhoul, UAE Ambassador to the UK, said, “Achieving greater ease of travel for Emiratis seeking to visit the UK has been one of our top priorities. Their travel to the UK for leisure or business will be hugely simplified. Today’s historic achievement will also serve to strengthen the close diplomatic relationship between the UAE and the UK and spur further growth in our economies. It indicates the high regard in which the UAE is held in the UK and internationally.”

1\ The UAE will be one of the first countries under the ETA scheme. Emirati citizens will not need a visa to visit the UK from 2023 ??✈️??

— Mansoor Abulhoul (@MansoorAbulhoul) June 27, 2022

UK Home Secretary Priti Patel commented that the UAE and other Gulf states “will be among the first countries in the world to benefit from ETAs and visa-free travel to the UK”. Prior to the ETA system set to be rolled out in 2023, UAE nationals visiting the UK can continue to use electronic visa waivers, which allow individuals to complete an online waiver for each visit to the UK.

Last week, the UK launched free trade negotiations with Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) countries to unlock opportunities for further investment. UK firms have at least £13.4bn invested in GCC economies and GCC firms have £15.7bn invested in the UK as of 2020.

Read: UK launches negotiations for free trade deal with GCC