(28 July 2024) MOGADISHU (Halqabsi News) – The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has opened its first visa centre in Mogadishu, ending a visa ban imposed in 2020 and marking a step in strengthening diplomatic ties with Somalia.
UAE Ambassador to Somalia, Ahmed Juma Al-Rumaithi, inaugurated the centre today, stating that it signifies the UAE’s commitment to fostering cooperation and bolstering relations between the two nations. This is the first UAE consulate to open in Mogadishu since the collapse of the Somali government in 1991.
In 2020, the UAE imposed a visa ban on Somali passport holders, along with citizens of 12 other countries. This move is expected to bring relief to the Somali business community, which has been advocating for the lifting of visa restrictions.
The UAE, home to a sizeable Somali diaspora, has been a key economic partner for Somalia, serving as its largest exporter of goods since the collapse of the Somali government. The relationship between the two countries has seen significant growth since President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s re-election in May 2022, with the UAE providing economic, humanitarian, and military aid.
In addition to maintaining a military base in Mogadishu, Bosaso and Berbera for training Somali government forces, the UAE’s opening of the visa centre is expected to further streamline travel and cooperation between the two countries.
Halqabsi News
