UAE, Jul 22 (Emirates 247): Citizens no longer need to apply for pre-entry visa requirements when travelling to the Republic of Sao Tome and Principe. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation has revealed the decision is effective July 6th.

Ahmed Saeed Elham Al Dhaheri, Assistant Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation for Consular Affairs, stressed that the memo received by the ministry from its counterpart in the Republic of Sao Tome and Principe, confirmed that the exemption will take effect from 6th July, 2017, and UAE nationals can stay in Sao Tome and Principe for up to 15 days.

Al Dhaheri stated that the initiative of the Republic of Sao Tome and Principe reflects the UAE’s prominent international position, and the growing development of bilateral ties between both countries, which will open new prospects for UAE nationals in terms of tourism, investment and commerce.

He added that this exemption will add to the list of the UAE’s diplomatic achievements recently and translates the success achieved in promoting the UAE passport strength, lifting the UAE influence worldwide as part of the "UAE Passport Force" initiative aimed at placing the State's passport on the list of the five most important passports in the world by 2021 upon the directives of H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.

The Republic of Sao Tome and Principe is an African country that consists of two islands in the Gulf of Guinea, about 240 kms from the West African coast.