File photo of departure hall at Hamad International Airport
Doha: Qatar will be the first country to benefit from the UK’s new Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) scheme. Qatari citizens can apply through the system from October 2023, according to the British Ambassador H E Jon Wilks CMG.
This new measure will provide travellers who do not require a visa to visit the UK with a platform to apply for digital pre-approval before arriving.
Speaking at a press conference in Doha yesterday, Wilks said that by applying via the new system in advance, visitors would benefit from smooth and efficient travel.
“The technical team is present in Qatar, and we have met with officials to test the new application system. In October, we will introduce and activate the new system, and Qatar will be the first country in the world to have access to this new system and be exempted from visas,” he said.
“Any Qatari citizen is free to choose between applying for the regular visa that still exists and obtaining a ten-year visa or applying through the application with extreme flexibility, and within five minutes. Any Qatari can obtain a two-year visa with a multiple visit system,” he added.
Ambassador Wilks said that availing the new visa system is very important to further strengthening “very strong” Qatar-UK relations.
He emphasised that the first annual Qatar-UK Strategic Dialogue in London in February 2023 paved the way for a robust and expanding bilateral relationship, adding that Qatar and the United Kingdom share a vital and flourishing trade and investment partnership.
Ambassador Wilks also indicated that negotiations for a free trade agreement (FTA) between the UK and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) would be finalised soon. He said the FTA would be a substantial economic opportunity and a significant moment in the UK-GCC relationship.
“We, the UK, are keen to move quickly on this… whereas these markets are important for us, and the political atmosphere is very positive with all the six GCC states. So we want them more quickly, of course,” he said, adding that an exact time frame to finalise the agreement depends on the progress of the negations.
“I think for the UK, we would like to get this completed this year, at the latest next year,” said Ambassador Wilks.
The third round of negotiations was held in March in Riyadh, with the next expected to be hosted by the UK later this year.
