In a significant step toward expanding its global diplomatic and economic footprint, Antigua and Barbuda’s national parliament has formally approved a resolution ratifying a reciprocal visa exemption agreement between the Caribbean nation and the United Arab Emirates. Government officials frame the move as a cornerstone of the country’s broader strategy to deepen international collaboration and strengthen cross-border ties with Gulf states. The agreement, tabled before the House of Representatives by Foreign Affairs Minister E.P. Chet Greene, aligns with Antigua and Barbuda’s long-running initiative to diversify its international partnerships and advance cooperation with Middle Eastern economies.
Under the terms of the deal, eligible passport holders from both Antigua and Barbuda and the UAE will gain the right to visa-free travel, eliminating the pre-travel visa requirement and streamlining cross-border movement for citizens, businesspeople, and tourists alike. Lawmakers signed off on the resolution during a regular parliamentary sitting held this Tuesday, where it formed one piece of a broader slate of international agreements brought forward for legislative approval.
Over the past decade, the United Arab Emirates has grown into an increasingly vital strategic and economic partner for small island developing states across the Caribbean, with robust collaboration already underway in key sectors including foreign direct investment, renewable energy infrastructure, aviation connectivity, bilateral trade, and development project financing. Antigua and Barbuda’s government has long emphasized its goal of expanding diplomatic and economic ties beyond its traditional partner blocs in North America and Europe, repeatedly identifying the Gulf region as an area of rising strategic priority.
This latest ratification forms part of Antigua and Barbuda’s ongoing push to cultivate stronger bilateral relationships across Africa, Asia, and the Middle East through targeted bilateral agreements and enhanced high-level engagement. The visa exemption resolution was not the only international measure approved during Tuesday’s sitting; lawmakers also greenlighted amendments related to the International Labour Organization, protocols linked to the International Civil Aviation Organization, and a series of agreements focused on cross-border international financial information exchange. None of the resolutions before parliament sparked extended debate, with all measures passing smoothly.
Collectively, the set of newly approved agreements will reinforce Antigua and Barbuda’s standing in the global community while deepening productive cooperation with key partners around the world, government officials confirmed. For the UAE visa waiver, entry into force will now await the completion of the final administrative and diplomatic procedural steps required by both national governments, with an official launch expected in the coming months.