Canadian visitors to U.A.E. no longer need visas

[Aaliyyah]

Canada and the United Arab Emirates have agreed to end a squabble over visas that forced Canadians to pay hundreds of dollars to enter the Gulf country.

 

Baird visited a Tim Hortons outlet in Abu Dhabi Tuesday with his "friend," the United Arab Emirates foreign minister, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Their morning coffee break was followed by "good and formal discussions," Baird said.

 

In a statement, the ministers said the talks would "strengthen and re-energize the Canada-U.A.E. relationship."

 

Relations between Canada and the U.A.E. soured in 2010 over Canada's refusal to grant Emirati airlines extra landing rights in Canada, a dispute that prompted the closure of a key Canadian Forces staging base outside Dubai.

 

The following year, the U.A.E. imposed a costly visa on Canadians visiting the country.

 

Visitors from most European countries, Australia and the U.S.didn't need visas for the U.A.E. Canadians, however, had to pay $165 for a single-entry, 30-day visa; $330 for a single-entry 60-day visa; and $660 for a six-month, multiple-entry visa.

 

Diplomatic irritations were partially soothed last year with news that Canada will sell the U.A.E. nuclear technology. At the same time, the U.A.E. announced it would cut the fees for visas, though the requirement remained in place.

 

On Tuesday, the ministers said they had accomplished their goal to "facilitate travel requirements to increase business, tourism and joint prosperity for our citizens by restoring the visa regime."

 

Chairs announced for joint business council

 

In addition to the nuclear co-operation agreement signed last year, the ministers' joint statement announced the launch of a Canada-U.A.E. business council.

 

The statement said the council's inaugural chairs would be Abdulla Saif Ali Slayem Al Nuaimi, the vice-chairman of TAQA [the Abu Dhabi National Energy Company], which is currently active in sustainable energy technology in Canada, and Gordon Nixon, the president and chief executive officer of the Royal Bank of Canada.

 

More than 40,000 Canadians live and work in the U.A.E. and more than 150 Canadian companies are established there.

 

In addition, International Trade Minister Ed Fast and his counterpart, the U.A.E.'s minister of economy, Sultan Bin Saeed Al Mansouri, will meet in May, the statement said.

 

The two countries also appear poised for future cooperation in the field of international development.

 

International Co-operation Minister Julian Fantino has accepted an invitation to visit the U.A.E. later this month, "collaborating in our mutual objectives to reduce poverty and create prosperity in the developing world by investing in economic development," the joint statement said.

 

The ministers agreed to strengthen co-operation on police, corrections and border matters, including training opportunities.

 

The two countries also joined in urging Iran to co-operate with the international community on its nuclear program and called for an effective and responsible international response to the Assad regime and its actions against the Syrian people.

 

"We find ourselves at a historic crossroads in the region and globally: between an opportunity to promote prosperity, security and development and the threats posed by extremists, conflict and poverty," the joint communique said.

 

Baird was in Jordan on the weekend before making his brief trip to Iraq on Monday. Baird's two-week tour of the Middle East continues throughout Parliament's Easter break, with future stops in Qatar, Bahrain, Cyprus and Israel.

 

 

© The Canadian Press, 2013

[Alpha Blondy]

excellent news!

 

this is wonderful news, Sister Aaliyah of Abu Hafsa Mosque (lowers gaze)

 

i've waited patiently to hear from you again, after so many weeks, wondering if you'll ever get in touch with me again. well, that wait is now over and this wonderful news will further consolidated what we've both waited for and for long, too. i lobbied the UAE government to resolve their visa dispute with canada and now, you can visit me at will and we shall finally complete the sacred matrimony of being man and wife. from UAE, i'm only 1hr and 30mins away. tickets are fairly reasonably priced and there are direct flights. once you've purchased your ticket, i shall be waiting for you in Berbera International Airport, Somaliland, with a maxraam from Las Anod. From Berbera, we'll go to my newly furnished house and you'll have access to SOL, provided your laptop is wireless, in the our segregated bedroom as per your request. then we shall send each other PMs until 6 in the morning.

 

Waa Bila Towfiq.

 

Abu Alfa Al Blondee

[Aaliyyah]

Shaqo la'aanti maxey ka badatey. Edab yeelo.

[Safferz]

It's about time... nothing worse than feeling like a prisoner in Dubai's airport when you have time to kill and could be out exploring the city for a few hours

[DoctorKenney]

Alpha seems to be unbelievably thirsty today. The thirst is too much

[Miskiin-Macruuf-Aqiyaar]

War Imaaraadka waxba igama galinee why did I have to pay $50 markaa Xamar tagay? War xataa meeshaa ku dhashay lacag dalkugal la iga rabaa.

 

I should have acted like my brother, who refused to pay the visa fee, but wuxuu isku haleynaaye Gaafoow, an acquaintance of his, who came out of his airport office and laughingly told him to go in Xamar without paying the visa fee.

[Che -Guevara]

MMA. It's only fair ninyahow, besides the Government needs revenue.

 

Gaafow, is he the one that said money was stolen from office's safe?

[Aaliyyah]

I agree with Che. The Somali government needs as much assistant as they can possibly get. But UAE is a rich nation. Not to mention the canadians were the only one paying; quiet unfair.

[Safferz]

Aaliyyah;933698 wrote:

I agree with Che. The Somali government needs as much assistant as they can possibly get. But UAE is a rich nation. Not to mention the canadians were the only one paying; quiet unfair.

It was a diplomatic issue between the two countries, it had nothing to do with needing revenue. UAE was angry that Canada did not allow Emirates and Etihad more landing rights in Canadian airports, and as a result UAE closed a Canadian military base there and introduced the costly visa for Canadians entering UAE.

[Aaliyyah]

You are right it was a diplomatic issue. I was simply pointing out that Somalia is a poor nation unlike UAE.

[N.O.R.F]

The Somali hotels and travel agents were making good money from Canadian Somalis the last two summers. Good move by the UAE.

[Tallaabo]

The Canadian citizens who forked out hundreds of dollars for a visa or simply could not get out of the UAE airports should blame the Air Canada executives who lobbied the Canadian government to deny Emirates and Etihad more landing rights. Air Canada smelt the coffee and knew giving the Middle Eastern carriers an unlimited access to the Canadian airspace would result in her loss of the lucrative Asian markets due to stiff competition. This saga was a tit-for-tat protectionism gone out of control.

[BN]

Fee is now waived, but visa is still required.