Canadian visitors to U.A.E. no longer need visas

Canada and the United Arab Emirates have agreed to end a squabble over visas that forced Canadians to pay hundreds of dollars to enter the Gulf country.

Baird visitedaTim Hortons outlet in Abu Dhabi Tuesday with his "friend," the United Arab Emirates foreign minister, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Their morning coffee break wasfollowed by "good and formal discussions," Baird said.

In a statement, the ministers saidthe talkswould "strengthen and re-energize the Canada-U.A.E. relationship."

Relations between Canada and the U.A.E. soured in 2010 over Canada's refusal to grant Emirati airlinesextra landing rights in Canada, a dispute that prompted the closure of a key Canadian Forces staging base outside Dubai.

The following year, the U.A.E.imposed a costly visa on Canadians visiting the country.

Visitors from most European countries, Australia and the U.S.didn't need visas for the U.A.E. Canadians, however, had topay $165 for a single-entry, 30-day visa; $330 for a single-entry 60-day visa; and $660 for a six-month, multiple-entry visa.

Diplomatic irritations werepartially soothed last yearwith news that Canada will sell the U.A.E. nuclear technology. At the same time, the U.A.E. announced it would cut the fees for visas, though the requirement remained in place.

On Tuesday, the ministers said they had accomplished their goal to"facilitate travel requirements to increase business, tourism and joint prosperity for our citizens by restoring the visa regime."

Chairs announced for joint business council

In addition to the nuclear co-operation agreement signed last year, theministers' joint statementannounced the launch of aCanada-U.A.E. business council.

The statement said thecouncil's inaugural chairs would be Abdulla Saif Ali Slayem Al Nuaimi, the vice-chairman of TAQA [the Abu Dhabi National Energy Company], which is currently active in sustainable energy technology in Canada, and Gordon Nixon, the president and chief executive officer of the Royal Bank of Canada.

More than 40,000 Canadians live and work in the U.A.E. and more than 150 Canadian companies are established there.

In addition, International Trade Minister Ed Fast and his counterpart, the U.A.E.'s minister of economy, Sultan Bin Saeed Al Mansouri, will meet in May, the statement said.

The two countries also appear poised for future cooperation inthe field of international development.

International Co-operation Minister Julian Fantino has accepted an invitation to visit the U.A.E. later this month, "collaborating in our mutual objectives to reduce poverty and create prosperity in the developing world by investing in economic development," the joint statement said.

The ministersagreed to strengthen co-operation on police, corrections and border matters, including training opportunities.

The two countries also joined in urging Iran to co-operate with the international community on its nuclear program and called for an effective and responsible international response to the Assad regime and its actions against the Syrian people.

"We find ourselves at a historic crossroads in the region and globally: between an opportunity to promote prosperity, security and development and the threats posed by extremists, conflict and poverty," the joint communique said.

Baird was in Jordan on the weekend before making his brief trip to Iraq on Monday.Baird'stwo-week tour of the Middle Eastcontinues throughout Parliament's Easter break, with future stopsin Qatar, Bahrain, Cyprus and Israel.