The European Parliament on Tuesday took the final step in exempting Emiratis from the Schengen visa by voting overwhelmingly for the resolution.

The Head of the UAE Mission to the European Union and Ambassador to Belgium, Sulaiman Al Mazrouei, said 537 of 667 EP members voted in favour of granting a visa waiver to Emiratis travelling to Schengen area countries.

“Today’s vote is the final seal of approval for the full exemption of UAE citizens from Schengen visa requirement,” Mr Al Mazrouei said.

“Today, we move from the initial stage to the full implementation of this visa waiver programme.”

The UAE and European Union signed a Schengen Area visa waiver agreement in May at a ceremony in Brussels.

The waiver allows UAE citizens to travel through the 26 Schengen countries without applying for visas, as well as eight non-Schengen states.

newsdesk@thenational.ae