Ukrainian passport holders can seek UAE visas

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

The United Arab Emirates says Ukrainian passport holders continue to be eligible for visas on arrival to the Gulf state.

The UAE’s Foreign Ministry statement on Thursday came in response to media coverage quoting Ukraine’s Embassy in the UAE saying that the Gulf country is reimposing visa requirements on Ukrainians and suspending an agreement for visa-free travel between the two countries.

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The UAE is home to some 15,000 Ukrainian residents among its roughly 8 million foreign residents. Before the coronavirus pandemic, around a quarter-million Ukrainian tourists visited the UAE.

Photo used for illustrative purposes.

The United Arab Emirates has assumed the presidency of the United Nations Security Council for the month of March.

Earlier, the United Arab Emirates has announced $5 million in humanitarian assistance to benefit civilians impacted by the situation in Ukraine. The contribution is made to the United Nations’ Humanitarian Flash Appeal and the Regional Refugee Response Plan for Ukraine and is a reflection of the UAE’s emphasis on humanitarian solidarity in conflict settings.

The UAE has underscored the importance of focusing on the deteriorating humanitarian situation for civilians, including by ensuring their protection, as well as preventing the unimpeded access for humanitarian agencies and actors and safe passage for those seeking to leave the country without discrimination or obstacles as stated during the UN Security Council’s meeting on the humanitarian situation in Ukraine on 28 February.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres officially launched the appeal to fund the UN’s humanitarian operations in Ukraine on 1 March 2022. According to UN reports, this assistance is critical in supporting the thousands of people suffering due to disruptions in essential services.