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Apologies if this is posted in the wrong forum.
U.A.E. slaps visas on Canadians
U.A.E. slaps visas on Canadians
Canadians will need visas to enter the United Arab Emirates as of Jan. 2, 2011, the U.A.E. Embassy in Ottawa has confirmed.
The announcement follows a dispute between Ottawa and the U.A.E. over airline landing rights at Canadian airports that saw Canada evicted from a key military base in Dubai.
Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada posted an update to its website that says the visas will be required for tourism and business purposes and can be obtained prior to travel at the U.A.E. Embassy.
Opposition critics have slammed Prime Minister Stephen Harper's Conservative government for its handling of relations with the U.A.E. — a key Mideast trading partner that had provided the Canadians with free use of the once-covert military base known as Camp Mirage to stage operations in Afghanistan.
The U.A.E. kicked Canada off Camp Mirage after the federal government refused to allow U.A.E. state carriers Emirates and Etihad unlimited daily service into Toronto. Currently, the two airlines are limited to six flights a week in total.
More to come
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Yeesh, they really have a grudge! Although I can't imagine many Canadians are regularly traveling to the U.A.E. anyway, visa or not.