In the first half of 2015, nearly 4,425 Seychelles citizens visited the UAE — nearly a quarter of the total Seychelles’ passengers abroad — while about 8,646 UAE nationals visited Seychelles.
Seychelles citizens no longer require a visa prior to visiting the UAE. A visa-waiver agreement signed by the two countries in November last year, which came into effect on July 16, allows Seychellois to have a 90-day visa on arrival to the UAE.
Seychelles president James Michel has hailed the UAE’s decision to exempt its citizens from visas to enter the country.
He said the decision is in line with the strong relations between the two countries and illustrates the UAE’s support for Seychelles in all fields under the leadership of The President, His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
“Seychelles is the first African country whose citizens are exempted from entry visas. This reflects the UAE’s confidence in the administrative and security system enforced in our country,” Michel said.
“The coming into force of the visa waiver agreement will herald a new period in travel with ease for the Seychellois people and also enhance greater people to people contact, trade and tourism between our two countries. It bears testimony to the unique friendship between Seychelles and the UAE. We have very special ties based on mutual respect, understanding and support, and these will be further strengthened by the development of our tourism and trade exchanges,” he added.
Seychelles foreign minister Joel Morgan said the UAE decision would further develop the relationship between the two countries.
“It reflects the determination of the two countries to strengthen their ties in all fields. It also comes as a reciprocal treatment as UAE citizens are exempted from visas to enter Seychelles, this has turned our country into the UAE’s fourth largest tourism market.”
Seychelles’ ambassador to the UAE Patrick Esparon said the UAE decision serves the common interests and bolsters cooperation between the two countries.
In the first half of 2015, nearly 4,425 Seychelles citizens visited the UAE — nearly a quarter of the total Seychelles’ passengers abroad — while about 8,646 UAE nationals visited Seychelles.
