U.A.E. slaps visa charge on Canadians

As the latest twist in the ongoing diplomatic spat between Canada and the United Arab Emirates, Canadians who want to travel to the U.A.E. will have to pay as much as $1,000 in visa fees. The federal government denied expanded landing rights for U.A.E. airlines flying to Canada last year, which prompted the U.A.E. to cancel the Canadian military’s access to a base in the Persian Gulf state, which had been used to support Canada’s troops in Afghanistan. Now, the U.A.E. is taking Canada off the list of more than 30 countries whose citizens didn’t need a visa to visit. The U.A.E. includes Dubai, a wealthy hub for travel and tourism in the Arab world. Its bid for more landing rights for its airlines in Canada split Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s cabinet last year. Defence Minister Peter MacKay reportedly favoured coming to terms with the U.A.E. in order to maintain that key military base, known as Camp Mirage.

Reuters