Estonia, Good for Business, Legislation, Tourism, Transport

Foreign Minister Urmas Reinsalu signed the memorandum on behalf of Estonia in Tallinn. Representing the UAE, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior, Lt. General H. H. Sheikh Saif Bin Zayed Al Nahyan signed the memorandum in Abu Dhabi, spokespeople for the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. 

The Estonian minister described the memorandum as a positive step in the relations between the two countries.

"It gives an additional impetus for our increasingly close ties in business and tourism and allows the Estonian community visiting and living in the United Arab Emirates to move around more easily and conveniently," Reinsalu said.

"For our representation in Abu Dhabi, which has been working for a year now, the issue of exchanging driving licenses was one of the first enquiries our citizens made to the embassy. I am glad that our presence has helped our country identify what are significant obstacles for our compatriots, and protect their interests," Estonia's Ambassador to the UAE Jaan Reinhold added.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the UAE, there are nearly 300 Estonian citizens living in the country. Estonian residents made more than 10,000 trips to the UAE in 2019, most of which were multi-day stays.

The agreement enters into force on Nov. 7.