UAE and Israel agree on 90-day visa-free travel for Emiratis


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Emiratis will be allowed to travel to Israel for up to 90 days without a visa, officials said on Thursday evening.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation said the exemption was part of a mutual visa waiver deal reached by the UAE and Israel.

The agreement was signed by Omar Ghobash, UAE Assistant Minister for Culture and Public Diplomacy, and Shlomo Mor-Yosef, director general of the Population and Immigration Authority in Israel's Ministry of Interior.

"The entry into force of the memorandum will allow UAE passport holders to enter ... Israel without a visa," Mr Ghobash said.

He said the move reflected the desire of both nations to strengthen relations.

Mr Ghobash stressed that the deal would have a positive effect on tourism, trade, investment and other sectors of mutual interest to the two countries.

The UAE and Israel formally agreed to allow visa-free travel during talks in Tel Aviv on Tuesday.

The UAE announced its decision to normalise relations with Israel in August. Known as the Abraham Accord, the agreement was signed at a White House event last month.

Since then, the two countries have struck several commercial deals.

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Volunteers offer workers a lifeline

Community volunteers have swung into action delivering food packages and toiletries to the men.

When provisions are distributed, the men line up in long queues for packets of rice, flour, sugar, salt, pulses, milk, biscuits, shaving kits, soap and telecom cards.

Volunteers from St Mary’s Catholic Church said some workers came to the church to pray for their families and ask for assistance.

Boxes packed with essential food items were distributed to workers in the Dubai Investments Park and Ras Al Khaimah camps last week. Workers at the Sonapur camp asked for Dh1,600 towards their gas bill.

“Especially in this year of tolerance we consider ourselves privileged to be able to lend a helping hand to our needy brothers in the Actco camp," Father Lennie Connully, parish priest of St Mary’s.

Workers spoke of their helplessness, seeing children’s marriages cancelled because of lack of money going home. Others told of their misery of being unable to return home when a parent died.

“More than daily food, they are worried about not sending money home for their family,” said Kusum Dutta, a volunteer who works with the Indian consulate.