Uzbekistan introduced a visa-free entry regime for citizens of the United Arab Emirates.
Since March 20, 2019, Uzbekistan introduced a visa-free regime for a period of 30 days from the date of entry for citizens of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The decree was signed on March 18 by the president of the republic, Shavkat Mirziyoyev.
The text of the presidential decree says:
In order to further intensify political, trade, economic, scientific, technical and cultural cooperation between the Republic of Uzbekistan and the United Arab Emirates, create a favorable investment climate and develop the tourism potential of the country:
- To establish a visa-free regime for March 30, 2019 for a period of 30 days from the date of entry into the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan for citizens of the United Arab Emirates.
- The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan to apply for multiple visas for a period of up to one year to citizens of the United Arab Emirates visiting Uzbekistan for business purposes, within 3 working days in foreign offices of the Republic of Uzbekistan, not counting the day of receipt of documents, with the cancellation of the requirement of an inviting legal entity in the Republic of Uzbekistan to Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
The visa abolition decree precedes the visit of Mirziyoyev to the United Arab Emirates, scheduled for March 25, 2019. The UAE Minister of Economy Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansouri named this date at the third meeting of the Uzbek-Emirate Intergovernmental Commission on Economic, Trade and Technical Cooperation, held in Tashkent.
Uzbekistan hopes that liberalization of the visa regime will allow the republic to become one of the most visited countries.
In January 2019, Uzbekistan expanded the list of countries whose citizens are allowed to enter without visas. Citizens of Italy, Austria, Norway and the UK, Canada, New Zealand and a number of other states planning to spend in Uzbekistan no more than 30 days will not need a visa.
Earlier, from July 15, 2018, a visa-free entry for foreigners under 16 years of age and a five-day visa-free entry for transit passengers were introduced in the republic. The list of countries whose citizens can apply for an electronic visa in a simplified manner includes 76 states.
