Travellers from Bosnia and Herzegovina can now visit the UAE without a visa.
On Monday, the two countries signed an agreement to grant visa exemptions to citizens of both countries for tourism, business and short-term visits, the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced.
The MoU aims to facilitate and promote travel, trade and people-to-people exchanges, the ministry said. “This exemption is expected to enhance cultural understanding, promote economic growth and strengthen tourism between the two countries,” it said in a statement.
The agreement was signed by Reem Al Hashimy, UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation, and Elmedin Konakovic, Foreign Minister of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The UAE made the decision to waive the visa requirement for citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina in April, following a meeting in Sarajevo between Konakovic and Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, the UAE’s foreign minister, according to local media.
Since 2015, UAE citizens have been exempt from visa requirements when entering, leaving or travelling through Bosnia and Herzegovina for up to 90 days. The criteria include having a passport that’s valid for six months after the stay and proof of onward travel, according to the Embassy of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Abu Dhabi.
According to the Henley Passport Index, the UAE passport is consistently rated as one of the strongest in the world. Over the past 10 years, the UAE passport has climbed more than 40 places from 56th in 2013. It is now ranked 14th, as Emirati passport holders can currently travel visa-free to 179 countries.
The Bosnian passport offers visa-free access to 118 countries, according to the Passport Index, placing the country 51st.
Located on the Balkan Peninsula, Bosnia and Herzegovina gained independence in 1992 and is known for its East-meets-West setting, influenced by Ottoman and Austro-Hungarian cultures.
It’s a stunning country with lush green landscapes, mountains, waterfalls and rivers, dotted with medieval ruins, old world towns and more modern cities that still retain plenty of character.
The nation is also incredibly ethnically diverse and is home to Perucica, one of the last remaining primeval forests in Europe, where the trees are hundreds of years old.
