Canada & UAE kiss and make up: Visa on arrival from June 1st 2013

A quick paste of a news release from yesterday that will be of interest for Canadians wanting to visit the UAE:

Canada Welcomes Return to U.A.E. No-Fee, On-Arrival Visas

May 28, 2013 – Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird today welcomed word that, effective June 1, 2013, Canadians will again be eligible for free visas upon arrival in the United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.).

“Sincere thanks to my counterpart His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the U.A.E., for delivering on his commitment to restore the previous visa regime for Canadians,” said Baird.

“It is great news for the tens of thousands of Canadians who travel to the U.A.E. each year for work or for vacation. It will help increase economic opportunity and long-term prosperity in both countries. It is also an important signal to the world that bilateral relations between our two countries are strong and getting stronger. We are on an upward trajectory. And that’s truly exciting.”

Canada and the U.A.E. will now focus their efforts on developing the Shared Strategic Agenda—announced on April 2, 2013, in Abu Dhabi.

More than 40,000 Canadians live and work in the U.A.E., and more than 150 Canadian companies currently do business there. For more information, visit Canada-United Arab Emirates Relations.

Thanks to Jessica for sending it to me :)

le fin.