UAE and Japan agree to visa-free travel

Citizens of the United Arab Emirates will soon be able to travel to Japan without needing to obtain a visa beforehand. 

Starting Nov. 1, Emirati citizens will be able to travel to Japan visa-free for tourism or business purposes and stay for up to 30 days. The deal aims to boost bilateral business, trade and investment, the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement yesterday. 

Citizens of Japan can already obtain a visa on arrival to the UAE, according to the Emirati government’s website. 

Why it matters: Japan has one of the biggest economies in the world and participates in the G20 forum. 

The UAE prioritizes strategic partnerships in its foreign policy and has looked to some Asian countries to this end, including Japan. In June, the UAE Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology hosted a Japanese official to discuss economic, industrial and energy cooperation. In July, the Emirates signed a trade agreement with Indonesia. 

Japan’s exports to the UAE totaled $6.1 billion in 2020, largely vehicles. The UAE’s exports to Japan amounted to $15.2 billion, including a large amount of oil and related chemicals, according to the Observatory of Economic Complexity. 

Know more: The UAE has the strongest passport in the world, with visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to more than 175 countries, according to the Passport Index.