UAE and GCC tourists gain access to UK’s visa-free arrivals system
▶ UAE ambassador says process will add lustre to reputation of Emirati passport
Applications are open for the UK’s visa-free Electronic Travel Authorisation system for Emiratis and other visitors from Gulf countries as officials predict a rise in the number travelling to Britain.
The system means tourists and other travellers will no longer have to seek an Electronic Visa Waiver when venturing to the London and other parts of the UK.
The first arrivals under the £10 ($12) initiative will start from February 22 and the authorisation when granted lasts two years with multiple entries permitted.
Mansoor Abulhoul, the UAE ambassador to the UK, said the new system would streamline visits in terms of affordability and speed.
“This is a great moment, a significant milestone in the relationship between the UAE and the UK,” he told The National.
Citizens of Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Jordan are also eligible under the initiative.
Visitor numbers from the Gulf states were as high as 1.2 million in 2019 before the coronavirus pandemic.
The most recent figures for 2022 show a partial recovery to 791,000 people arriving in the UK.
Mr Abulhoul said the latest development would benefit the already high status of the UAE passport, which has climbed international league tables and allows visa-free travel to 179 countries.
“We’ll expect the Emirati passport to go up in standing, and I’m sure it will be in the top 10 as it goes from strength to strength,” he said.
AbdulMaalik Tailor, chief executive of travel agency Halal Tourism Britain, described the initiative as a “significant step forward”.
“Not only does it streamline the process and offer a substantial cost reduction, priced at only £10, but it also introduces convenient application through an app,” he said.
Emiratis travelling to the UK can apply to enter the country under Electronic Travel Authorisation, a visa-free process that provides repeat visits under a single confirmation.
The initiative, which begins today, is also open to citizens of Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Jordan.
Mansoor Abulhoul, UAE ambassador to the UK, said the plan would boost travel between the Emirates and Britain, opening up more opportunities for citizens travelling to London and beyond.
“[There has been] a real collaboration with the UK government to bring this scheme into existence,” he said.
“Visitors consider the UK one of their very popular destinations to visit all through the year. So, I think this will be a big boost for people connectivity. There’ll be knock-on economic benefits as well as the cultural benefits that I see coming from this.”
The ETA is cheaper, faster and easier to apply for than the current Electronic Visa Waiver and is available for people arriving in the UK from February 22.
“The system that is coming into place means there will be no pre-entry visa requirements for Emiratis visiting the UK, which will be of huge benefit,” Mr Abulhoul said.
Officials believe the three-day application window is likely to be much shorter than advertised and approvals may take only hours.
Visitors from the Gulf states and Jordan could stay in the UK for up to six months for tourism, business, study or medical treatment. Holders of Electronic Travel Authorisation will be able to make unlimited visits to the UK over two years.
Mr Abulhoul said the move would add lustre to the reputation of the Emirati passport.
It has climbed league tables and the holders can already visit 179 destinations without the need for a visa.
“We’ll expect the Emirati passport to go up in standing, and I’m sure it will be somewhere in the top 10 as it goes from strength to strength,” he said.
Mr Abulhoul said he expected the dynamics of travel to change for many tourists who could use the UK as a base for travel to continental Europe. “It allows multiple entries to the UK and to visit as many times as you want over a twoyear period,” he said.
“This is a huge step forward. The cost will be a third of the existing electronic visa waiver scheme, which makes a difference for a larger Emirati family visiting.
“They can then do visits into places like France and Europe, which I think will be a big bonus for them.”
AbdulMaalik Tailor, founder and chief executive of Halal Tourism Britain, told The National that the initiative was a “significant step forward”.
“Not only does it streamline the process and offer a substantial cost reduction, priced at only £10 [$12], but it also introduces convenient application through an app,” he said. “This holds particular significance during peak tourist seasons, where visitors from GCC countries tend to prolong their stays and contribute significantly to the local economy, particularly within the luxury hospitality sector.
“Furthermore, acknowledging their role in paving the way for investments in British hotels and properties underscores the mutual benefits of implementing the Electronic Travel Authorisation system.”
Mr Abulhoul said the UK could consider changing rules that required visitors to pay value added tax, typically 20 per cent, on purchases in the UK.
“We’re looking forward to, we hope, tax-free shopping being reintroduced into the UK,” he said. “So now we’ve got Electronic Travel Authorisation, we’ll be focusing our attention as a team here in London on tax-free shopping.”
A Centre for Economics and Business Research report, which was released this week, found that tourist arrival numbers in the UK and visitor spending would have recovered quicker after the Covid-19 pandemic had the VAT-free scheme been in place.
“Visitor numbers could have been up to two million higher, while expenditure could have been up to £4 billion higher,” it said.
“In terms of the GDP impact, such additional expenditure equates to an output boost of £11.1 billion, up from the previous estimate of £10.7 billion.”