Signing of visa waiver agreement between the UAE and Uzbekistan

From January 15, 2024, UAE citizens will no longer have to go through the electronic visa process when entering Uzbekistan. During the same period, Uzbek nationals in possession of a biometric passport will be exempt from visa requirements when entering the UAE thanks to a memorandum of understanding signed by both countries. The memorandum applies to both normal passport holders and holders of special and missionary passports, who are exempt from the visa requirement.

The official announcement was made by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, signed by Deputy Foreign Minister Khaled Abdullah Belhoul and Uzbekistan's Ambassador to the UAE Abdulaziz Akkulov.

The signing of this memorandum was an important step in the efforts to strengthen relations between the UAE and Uzbekistan and facilitate travel between the two countries. This step represents an important stage in the expansion of cooperation in various fields, including politics, economy, culture, education and other areas of mutual interest.

The memorandum is expected to enter into force on February 16, 2024. In 2023, 119.45 thousand Uzbek citizens visited the UAE and spent 9.2 million dollars on tourist visas.
Currently, UAE nationals can enter 131 countries without a visa, but a separate eTA application is required for travel to three specific countries. Visa on Arrival (VOA) applies to UAE nationals for entry into 34 countries, with a further 32 countries requiring a visa for UAE nationals. Uzbekistan is now removed from the list of 21 countries for which UAE nationals require an eTA.