Visa waivers reflect close UAE-Canada ties

Now that travelling to Canada has been made easier, maybe it’s time for more direct flights

From next week, UAE passport holders will be able to travel to Canada without first having to apply for a visa. The new travel regulations reflect the close ties between Canada and the UAE, and also reflect positively on the combined efforts of the UAE government to ensure that every measure is taken to improve its international standing and close relationships on the global stage.

When the changes take effect, the UAE will be treated like most western and European nations whose citizens are allowed to travel to Canada without first having to obtain a visa from Ottawa’s consular and diplomatic representatives.

Visiting the world’s second-largest nation will now simply involve filling out an electronic visa waiver form in advance — as is required by any passport holder from those European and western nations. This preauthorisation is inspected by Canadian customs authorities and once it has been granted — a process that takes minutes — visitors are cleared to travel to Canada.

This development will allow Emiratis to travel freely to explore business opportunities and tourist sites, as well as building on the close relationship that already exists between the two nations.

But this visa waiver also reflects the growing influence of the UAE passport in international terms, and Henley’s, the global consulting organisation that tracks passport rankings, now ranks the UAE document as 23rd most powerful in the world.

Already, Emirates and Etihad operate regular flights to Toronto. If anything, this new visa waiver scheme will increase cooperation in other sectors.