Uzbekistan introduces 30-day visa-free regime for UAE citizens

TASHKENT, March 19 (Xinhua) -- Uzbekistan has introduced a 30-day visa-free regime for citizens of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) starting from March 20, according to a Uzbek presidential decree published on Tuesday.

The decree issued by Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev also instructs the Uzbek foreign office to issue multiple-entry visas for up to one year to UAE citizens visiting Uzbekistan for business purposes.

According to the decree, the decision is aimed at further enhancing political, trade, economic, scientific, technical and cultural cooperation between Uzbekistan and the UAE, creating a favorable investment climate and developing the country's tourism potential.

Uzbekistan's government has been taking a set of measures to boost tourism. The government's aim is to attract more than 9 million foreign tourists by 2025 and increase the share of the tourism industry in the gross domestic product from 2.3 percent in 2017 to 5 percent in 2025.

In February, the Central Asian nation has offered 45 more countries 30-day visa-free travel and the list of countries eligible for Uzbekistan's e-visa system was expanded to 76 countries.

According to the state tourism committee, the number of visitors to Uzbekistan hit 5.3 million in 2018, nearly double that of 2017.