Under the new rules, citizens of the following Arab countries will be eligible for visa-free travel to the UK for up to 6 months:
UAE
Saudi Arabia
Qatar
Kuwait
Bahrain
Oman
Jordan
Citizens of these countries will still need to apply for an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) before travelling to the UK. The ETA is a free online application that can be completed in minutes.
The UK government has said that the new rules are part of its commitment to "building a global Britain" and "making it easier for people from all over the world to visit the UK."
The changes have been welcomed by some businesses and tourism groups, who say they will make it easier for people from Arab countries to visit the UK. However, some security experts have raised concerns that the new rules could make it easier for terrorists to travel to the UK.
The UK government has said that it has taken steps to mitigate these concerns, such as requiring all ETA applicants to provide their passport information and travel history.
The new rules will be reviewed after 12 months to assess their impact.
Here are some of the key changes to the UK visa rules for citizens of Arab countries:
Visa-free travel for up to 6 months for citizens of the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, and Jordan.
Requirement to apply for an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) before traveling to the UK.
Free online application for ETA.
Review of the new rules after 12 months.
The new rules are part of the UK government's commitment to "building a global Britain" and "making it easier for people from all over the world to visit the UK."
