Saudi Arabia and Russia sign a mutual visa exemption allowing 90-day visits for tourism, business and family trips for citizens
visa-free travel
Latest in visa-free travel
Armenia
Armenia announces visa-free travel for citizens and residents of UAE, Saudi, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman and Bahrain
Armenia welcomes tourism and business with visa-free travel for UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman and Bahrain
Abu Dhabi real estate
Eid Al Fitr in the UAE; Visa-free travel ideas; Dubai villa sales surge; Sheikh Mohammed reveals $65bn investment plan – 10 things you missed this week
UAE Eid Al Fitr dates and travel ideas. Dubai real estate analysis, Saudi sick leave warning and more top news stories this week
Eid
UAE visa-free travel for Eid Al Fitr 2025
With Eid Al Fitr holidays coming soon, which countries can UAE residents visit without needing a visa before travelling?
Emirati passport
UAE passport named world’s most powerful for fourth straight year
Visa-free travel to 133 countries and visa on arrival in 47 for Emiratis; European nations dominate the top 20; USA, UK continue downward trend
China
UAE and Qatar citizens to get 10-day visa-free entry to China
Number of provinces that these travellers can visit under the transit programme has been increased from 19 to 24
China
China extends visa-free transit to 10 days for foreign travellers from 54 countries
Foreigners made 8.2 million inbound trips to China, up 48.8 per cent year-on-year in the third quarter of 2024
Qatar
Qatar announces visa-free travel to the US; 90-day visits permitted
Qatari citizens can visit the US for 90 days without needing a visa
Bahrain
UAE announces major investment and transport strategies; Visa-free travel to Qatar, Golden Visas in Bahrain, Dubai targets $272bn real estate market – 10 things you missed this week
UAE strategies for transport, investment and real estate, Qatar tourism, Bahrain Golden Visas and more of the biggest stories this week
qatar tourism
Qatar offers visa-free travel to 102 countries; targets tourists from Saudi, UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman with Winter campaign
Visit Qatar launches new campaign to attract GCC tourists as visitor numbers climb 24 per cent
India
Indian tourists to travel visa-free to Russia starting 2025, says Moscow official
In the first half of 2024, 28,500 Indian travellers visited the Russian capital, which is 1.5 times more than during the same period last year
Qatar
Qatar announces visa-free travel to the US
Qatar and the US waive visas, allowing 90-day visits for citizens
Chinese travellers
South Africa to introduce 90-day visa waiver for Indian travellers starting January 2025
The move is expected to increase the number of Indian tourists visiting South Africa, which currently stands at 16,000
Henley Passport Index
UAE ranks ninth among top 10 ‘most powerful’ passports in the world
UAE passport holders can travel to 185 countries without needing a visa in advance
Dubai International Airport
UAE visa changes; Dubai floods; new tax introduced; outstanding schools revealed; real estate booming – 10 major stories so far this year
Floods, real estate, visas, tax, education and more top stories in Dubai, the UAE and across the region in the first half of 2024
China
China expands visa-free travel for UAE, Qatar and 52 more countries
China introduces three new ports to allow visa-free travel and business visits for foreigners
Africa
How 3 Schengen-style visas planned in GCC, Asia and Africa could change tourism forever
Planned Schengen-style visas in South East Asia, Southern Africa and the GCC could have deliver a massive tourism boost to 17 countries
