The UAE's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MoFAIC) has announced that Emiratis holding ordinary passports are now exempt from pre-entry visas to travel to Ukraine as of  December 31, 2017.

The decision is in implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by the UAE and Ukraine on  November 2, reported Emirates news agency Wam.

Ahmed Elham Al Dhaheri, assistant under-secretary for Consular Affairs at MoFAIC, said that holders of ordinary UAE passports will be able to enter Ukraine without a pre-visa requirement, with the possibility to stay in Ukraine for a period of up to 30 days on each visit. Diplomatic and private passport holders can stay in Ukrainian territory for 90 days within 180 days, he added.

Al Dhaheri said that this move of the Ukrainian government reflects the prominent international status that the UAE has attained, opening up further horizons for its citizens, as well as enhancing bilateral relations between the two friendly countries across various sectors including tourism, investment and trade.

He reaffirmed that the ministry has made great strides in its diplomatic and consular efforts to strengthen the country's status at the global level.

The ministry's commitment to signing MoUs on visa exemptions comes from its keenness to provide distinguished consular services to UAE nationals to facilitate their travel to the world on the one hand, and boost bilateral relations with the countries of the world as well as enhance co-operation in the tourism, economic and investment fields on the other, he noted.