In the new summer season, Georgia hopes to attract wealthy tourists from the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, which will be facilitated by regular direct flights from UAE cities to Batumi.
Direct flights from Dubai will be operated by flydubai, from Sharjah by low-cost airline Air Arabia. “We expect that there will be an unprecedentedly high tourist flow from Saudi Arabia this year, during the summer tourist season, which is due to the fact that we have successfully completed negotiations with airlines that operate or will operate in Georgia,” said Deputy Economy Minister Mariam Kvrivishvili.
According to her, Georgia is “one of the safest and most hospitable countries for tourists, which leads to an increase in the number of visitors year after year.” Mariam Kvrivisheili noted that up to 54 flights per week will be operated from Saudi Arabia to Tbilisi and Batumi during the summer season. “Saudi Arabia is a strategically important target country for Georgia, incoming tourists are characterized by high costs,” she concluded.
In March 2022, the authorities of the United Arab Emirates decided to introduce a visa-free regime for holders of Georgian passports, the Georgian Embassy in the UAE said in a statement. Until now, only holders of diplomatic and service passports of Georgia have used the visa-free regime in the UAE.
The visa-free regime will enter into force after the completion of the relevant procedures. According to diplomats, this decision is another indicator of the positive dynamics in the development of bilateral relations between Georgia and the UAE. The countries established diplomatic relations on October 20, 1992.
The countries are working to establish a mechanism for regular political consultations and to intensify bilateral visits. Georgia and the UAE are interested in developing cooperation in the areas of economy, investment and tourism.
As Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia Natia Turnava said earlier, the largest investment funds of the United Arab Emirates expressed their readiness to enter Georgia, expand and invest in the development of energy, logistics and tourism.
Over the past years, UAE investors have invested more than US$1.1 billion in Georgia. “However, there is an opportunity to further expand the projects of UAE investors and their investments in Georgia,” Turnava said.
According to the minister, foreign direct investment and the diversification of their geography are important for economic recovery after the coronavirus pandemic. The UAE is Georgia’s leading trading partner among the Persian Gulf countries.