logo
UAE residents to get visa-free entry to Armenia from July 1

UAE residents to get visa-free entry to Armenia from July 1

Khaleej Times11-06-2025
Armenia will offer visa-free entry to residents of the UAE starting July 1, Khaleej Times can confirm. Travellers' residency visas must be valid for at least six months. Previously, only UAE nationals could travel visa-free to the landlocked country, while residents were eligible for a visa on arrival.
The new visa-free policy enables travel for tourism, leisure, or business purposes without a visa for stays of up to 90 days within any 180-day period.
This change is part of a broader initiative by the Armenian government to expand its visa-free policy to travellers holding residency permits — valid for at least six months — issued by countries in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), the European Union (EU), the Schengen Area, or the United States. The GCC includes the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, and Qatar.
The decision was made at an Armenian cabinet meeting last month and 'is expected to boost tourism and investments,' state news agency Armenpress reported.
Located at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, Armenia is a popular travel destination for UAE residents, particularly among expatriates. The country is just a three-hour flight from the UAE, with airlines like flydubai, Air Arabia, and Wizz Air operating direct flights.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

UAE: S&P assigns AA- rating to Masdar, outlook stable
UAE: S&P assigns AA- rating to Masdar, outlook stable

Khaleej Times

time28 minutes ago

  • Khaleej Times

UAE: S&P assigns AA- rating to Masdar, outlook stable

S&P Global Ratings on Wednesday assigned an 'AA-' long-term issuer credit rating to Abu Dhabi-based renewable energy group Masadar. The outlook is stable. This results in six notches of uplift from Masdar's stand-alone credit profile (SACP) of 'bbb-', leading to an 'AA-' long-term issuer credit rating. 'We think that Masdar has an extremely high likelihood of receiving timely and sufficient financial support from the government of Abu Dhabi. The group has the very important role of leading the emirate's renewable goals, and it benefits from having integral ties with the state government,' the ratings agency said in a statement. Masdar retains priority on the mandate for renewable energy for Abu Dhabi, being a key vehicle for the UAE in achieving its goals of tripling renewable energy by 2030. The UAE government has pledged to make the country carbon neutral by 2050 and plans to invest heavily in alternative energy sources that are both renewable and clean. Masdar benefits from an established global market position in the clean energy development business, a diversified capacity base, and an ambitious growth strategy sponsored by the government. There is ample evidence and a solid track record of state support to accompany Masdar's growth. The group has thus far received over Dh20 billion in equity support from the government to finance its acquisitions on growing platforms. 'We think that the Emirate of Abu Dhabi is willing and able to provide extraordinary financial support,' the ratings agency noted. Masdar's strategy of acting as a platform investor and aggregator has significantly expanded its scale and diversity. From 2021 to March 2025, Masdar's gross capacity (considering operational, under construction, and committed projects) increased to 33 gigawatt (GW) from 15 GW. This trajectory was backed by a dual business model that combines greenfield development with strategic acquisitions — each supported by appropriate funding sources. 'The company has a portfolio of geographically diverse assets in strategic locations across the globe and exposed to well-proven renewable technologies, notably utility-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) and onshore wind capacity, which together account for more than 80 per cent of Masdar's generation base,' S&P Global Ratings said. The continuous support and the privileged access to low-cost financial resources thanks to its government links are a major differentiating factor when assessing the group's financial solidity and capacity to sustain high leverage. 'Despite Masdar's heightened leverage, the company — which is a pioneer in green bond financing in the UAE — managed to raise about Dh10 billion so far in 2025, with a low coupon rate of about 5 per cent,' the agency said. Masdar's strong diversification, government-backed growth model, and hands-off approach to distressed assets all support the deconsolidated financial analysis approach. Unlike many of its peers, Masdar's business model ensures that its financial risk profile is not tied to individual projects or their associated debt. 'Masdar's deconsolidated debt-to-Ebitda is likely to increase to 5.0x-6.0x over 2025 and 2026, from 1.8x in 2024, before falling to 2024 levels as all the development activity Masdar has undertaken over the past year—particularly through the acquisitions of growth platforms — become operational and begin generating cash,' S&P Global analysts wrote.

Masdar achieves record portfolio growth of 62% in 2024
Masdar achieves record portfolio growth of 62% in 2024

Khaleej Times

time29 minutes ago

  • Khaleej Times

Masdar achieves record portfolio growth of 62% in 2024

Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company PJSC – Masdar, has released its 12th Annual Sustainability Report which highlights how the company strengthened its position as a global clean energy leader last year, delivering record portfolio capacity growth and increasing its global footprint through major acquisitions in Europe and the United States. Masdar's Sustainability Report highlights the company's continued progress in key sustainability areas, including environmental performance, social impact, ethical business practices, and workforce diversity. It also reinforces Masdar's leadership in sustainable finance with the expansion of its green bond programme in 2024. Masdar achieved a record portfolio growth of 62 percent last year, with its operational, under-construction, and advanced pipeline capacity reaching 51 gigawatts (GW), more than halfway to the company's 2030 target of 100GW. Total capacity for operational and under construction projects almost doubled to 32.6GW, with operational projects generating 29,225 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of clean electricity, avoiding 15.5 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent. Landmark acquisitions fueled Masdar's growth in 2024. With its strategic expansion in Europe, Masdar acquired Greece's TERNA ENERGY for a total enterprise value of €3.2 billion. Masdar also acquired a 50 percent stake in Terra-Gen, one of the largest independent renewable energy producers in the United States. Terra-Gen's portfolio will play a key role in driving Masdar's global capacity growth. The investment will also accelerate collaboration between the US and the UAE in alignment with their strategic energy partnership for reliable, affordable and sustainable energy. In the Iberian Peninsula, another core European market, Masdar expanded further by acquiring Saeta for US$1.4 billion and securing a 49 percent stake in a 2GW operating solar portfolio from Endesa S.A. Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, Chief Executive Officer, Masdar, said, 'As Masdar continues to evolve as a global clean energy leader, 2024 marked a defining chapter in our journey, as we expanded our presence in key global markets, strengthened our financial credentials, and drove initiatives that reflect our commitment to responsible growth and inclusive progress. As a global investor, developer, and operator, we are delivering impact at scale across key geographies and helping to shape the future of clean energy. We will continue to drive innovation in the clean energy sector and reinforce our position as a partner of choice for governments and communities across the globe.' Aligned with its focus on diversity, inclusion, and leadership development, Masdar is committed to promoting a strong female representation in management, with women now comprising 20 percent of its management team. It is also steadfast in its approach to empowering local communities through sustainable urban development and inclusive energy access initiatives across its projects.

UAE: Over 10,000 marriage applications from foreigners received by court in 2025
UAE: Over 10,000 marriage applications from foreigners received by court in 2025

Khaleej Times

time34 minutes ago

  • Khaleej Times

UAE: Over 10,000 marriage applications from foreigners received by court in 2025

Over 10,000 civil marriage applications from foreigners were submitted to the Civil Family Court in Abu Dhabi during the first half of 2025, the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department has announced. This number represents an increase of approximately 20 per cent compared to the same period last year. This brings the total number of registered civil marriage contracts to 43,000 since the introduction of Law No. 14 of 2021 on civil marriage in Abu Dhabi. Counselor Yousef Saeed Al Abri, Undersecretary of the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department, said that the growing demand for civil marriage services by foreigners reflects the high quality and uniqueness of this service in the Middle East. According to the Civil Family Court's statistical report, the number of registered civil marriages has grown significantly in less than three years — from approximately 5,400 in 2022 to over 16,000 in 2024. Counselor Al Abri noted that Abu Dhabi is a preferred destination for those seeking civil marriage services, as it has the region's first civil personal status court dedicated to foreigners, and provides services in both Arabic and English. The advanced Civil Family Court model enables foreigners to complete legal proceedings transparently, with full understanding of each litigation stage — reflecting Abu Dhabi's dedication to the principles of inclusive justice. The court offers a comprehensive, streamlined judicial experience — from application submission to judgement issuance — in both Arabic and English. This boosts client confidence, and reduces time and procedural costs. Key services offered by the Civil Family Court for foreigners include: The Civil Family Court provides a full suite of electronic services without requiring residency in the UAE, making them accessible to residents, tourists, and visitors alike — ensuring smooth and efficient legal processes for all clients.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store