UAE and Uganda Begin 90-Day Visa-Free Travel for Diplomatic & Service Passport Holders
Emirati Passport Climbs to 3rd Worldwide With Visa-Free Access to 186 Destinations
UK Makes Electronic Travel Authorisation Mandatory for Emiratis From 25 February
Latest News
Uganda Confirms Reciprocal Visa-Free Access for UAE Officials as Part of Wider Africa Agreements
Uganda has officially ratified its 90-day visa waiver with the UAE for diplomatic, official and special passports, reinforcing a trade relationship that grew 64 percent in 2025. The move removes final uncertainties for UAE organisations sending government-status travellers to Uganda and signals the Gulf state’s deepening economic footprint in East Africa.
UK ETA Fee Guide Highlights True Cost for UAE Travellers and Warns of Third-Party Mark-Ups
A detailed cost guide warns Emirati travellers that the UK ETA’s official £16 fee can balloon if third-party sites are used. Companies are urged to update reimbursement policies and steer travellers to the official GOV.UK platform to avoid unnecessary expenses.
UAE Drops 50 % Up-Front Payment Requirement for Property Golden Visa
A policy circular issued on 22 February 2026 abolished the requirement for Golden Visa property applicants to have paid 50 % of a unit’s value up front. Investors now qualify once the DLD-certified valuation reaches AED 2 million, regardless of payment schedule, making 10-year residency far easier to obtain and boosting the UAE’s appeal to globally mobile talent.
Armenia Joins UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar in Visa-Free Travel Bloc
Armenia became the fourth member of a Gulf-centred visa-free bloc on 22 February 2026, eliminating pre-arrival visa requirements for travel between Armenia, the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar. The deal simplifies short-term assignments, is expected to boost two-way tourism and investment, and is seen as a precursor to the long-discussed GCC unified tourist visa scheme.
UAE and Bahrain Pilot One-Point Airport Clearance to Cut Border Queues
Abu Dhabi and Manama launched a joint airport pre-clearance system on 22 February 2026 that lets travellers complete immigration only once, at departure. The biometric-driven pilot slashes arrival-hall queues, bolsters GCC plans for seamless travel and gives employers new flexibility when scheduling day trips between the two capitals.