UAE approves temporary entry arrangement for Israelis
As part of the arrangement, airlines will arrange for electronic entrance documents for passengers.
By JERUSALEM POST STAFFA United Arab Emirates (UAE) flag waves alongside an Israeli flag(photo credit: REUTERS/CHRISTOPHER PIKE)
The United Arab Emirates approved a temporary arrangement on Monday that allows Israelis to enter the UAE, according to Israel's Foreign Ministry. The arrangement will take effect until the visa exemption between the Israel and the UAE is approved.As part of the arrangement, airlines will arrange for electronic entrance documents for passengers.Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi spoke with his counterpart from the UAE in order to reach the agreement and at the Minister's directive, the consular departments of the two countries to coordinate Israeli entry to the UAE, according to the Ministry.Approval from the UAE follows a vote by the Israeli cabinet in favor of a visa-free agreement with the United Arab Emirates on Sunday.The ministry also announced that Israel gave the UAE an official missive on Monday confirming the visa-free entry agreement for UAE citizens to Israel.The agreement will go into effect 30 days after the countries exchange missives.Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pointed out that this was the first time Israel has ever signed such an agreement with an Arab country.“This is an important step for mutual tourism,” Netanyahu said. “It will open and strengthen the ties between the countries [such as] the economic ties. I believe that the citizens of Israel and the whole world see the tremendous change we are making in our region.”Lahav Harkov contributed to this report.
