United Kingdom considering visa waiver for Emiratis

Abu Dhabi: The UK is considering visa-free entry for Emiratis, a senior UK official said on Tuesday.

The UK Government is actively considering a proposal to waive visas for Emiratis, Alistair Burt, Parliamentary Undersecretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, said.

“We will let people know [once a decision is made],” he said without giving any time-frame.

Burt was addressing a joint press conference along with Dr Anwar Gargash, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Federal National Council Affairs, after the tenth meeting of the UK-UAE Taskforce co-chaired by them.

With more than 100,000 British expatriates living in the UAE and a million British tourists visiting the UAE annually, only a very small number of cases are reported to the British Embassy, Burt said.

He appreciated the Dubai Police investigating the case of a missing British sailor in Dubai last year. Gargash said the UAE is in touch with the British authorities about the case.

Gargash also said an agreement between the UK and the UAE to transfer prisoners between both nations was working well, without giving further details.

Burt, who visited the UAE’s new International Centre of Excellence for Countering Violent Extremism yesterday morning, appreciated the UAE’s efforts against extremism. The recent murder of a UK soldier in London by extremists elements has raised concerns and the UK appreciates the UAE’s efforts against such extremist forces, he said.

Gargash cited the agreements on nuclear operation and extradition, the UK’s support for Dubai’s bid to host World Expo 2020 and increasing trade and investments for the deep-rooted ties between both nations.

He criticised Hezbollah’s role in regional affairs, especially in the Syrian conflict. Although Hezbollah claims it wants to keep the unity of Lebanon’s territories, its real intentions are sectarian, he alleged.

He said Syria has become a haven of ‘jihadists’ because of the misdeeds of the Bashar Al Assad regime. Al Assad used military force against the peaceful demonstrations, that incited the current conflict which claimed the lives of hundreds of civilians, he said. The UK has never considered military intervention in Syria, the UK minister said in reply to a question whether it would consider such an option if the conflict does not end by this year.

Burt and Gargash said both nations support the efforts to secure a successful outcome at the forthcoming Geneva conference.

Successful visit

Gargash reiterated the UAE’s stand on the UAE islands occupied by Iran — that it should be resolved by negotiations under international law.

“We have been reiterating that the occupation is a violation of international law,” he said in reply to a question.

The ministers said the Task Force discussed cooperation in several sectors.

The Taskforce was first established in July 2010 by British Prime Minister David Cameron and President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, to further strengthen UK-UAE relations.

The Task Force reflected on the successful visit of the British prime minister to the UAE in November last year and the State Visit of Shaikh Khalifa to the UK recently on the invitation of the British Queen.