Armenian government introduces a visa-free regime for citizens of Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Oman
22.05.2025,
13:35
On Thursday, at a regular meeting, the Armenian government decided to establish a visa-free regime for entry into the republic for citizens of Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Oman.
YEREVAN, May 22. /ARKA/. On Thursday, at a regular meeting, the Armenian government decided to establish a visa-free regime for entry into the republic for citizens of Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Oman.
“The proposed draft law eliminates the need for entry visas for citizens of these three countries, as well as for those individuals who have the right (status) to reside in these countries, as well as in the UAE and the United States,” said Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan.
According to him, the change is due to economic considerations in order to simplify visits by people from Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Oman to Armenia, contacts between citizens, and to increase the investment attractiveness of the Republic of Armenia.
"Armenia has already established a similar regime in a number of neighboring countries with a certain level of economic development, such as with the UAE, with which the visa regime was eliminated last year," Mirzoyan said.
Armenian Minister of Economy Gevorg Papoyan, for his part, called this project very important.
"We expect a significant increase in the influx of tourists, the business environment welcomes this, and we hope that this will be followed by opportunities to increase direct flights. Our tourism strategy is almost ready, we have targeted the above-mentioned countries as main markets, in particular, we expect the Middle East to become one of the main and leading markets. In recent years, tourist flows have increased, and the entry of potential investors has been facilitated," Papoyan noted.
The rationale for the draft decision developed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs indicates that this takes into account the strategic goals of activating the economic component of the RA foreign policy and stimulating tourism.
"Currently, a visa-free entry regime is established for citizens of the United States, the European Union, the Schengen Agreement, the UAE, Qatar and Kuwait. In this context, the liberalization of the visa regime will also contribute to increasing the investment attractiveness of the Republic of Armenia, encouraging visits by a greater number of investors, entrepreneurs and business circles from this group of countries," the document notes.
“The proposed draft law eliminates the need for entry visas for citizens of these three countries, as well as for those individuals who have the right (status) to reside in these countries, as well as in the UAE and the United States,” said Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan.
According to him, the change is due to economic considerations in order to simplify visits by people from Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Oman to Armenia, contacts between citizens, and to increase the investment attractiveness of the Republic of Armenia.
"Armenia has already established a similar regime in a number of neighboring countries with a certain level of economic development, such as with the UAE, with which the visa regime was eliminated last year," Mirzoyan said.
Armenian Minister of Economy Gevorg Papoyan, for his part, called this project very important.
"We expect a significant increase in the influx of tourists, the business environment welcomes this, and we hope that this will be followed by opportunities to increase direct flights. Our tourism strategy is almost ready, we have targeted the above-mentioned countries as main markets, in particular, we expect the Middle East to become one of the main and leading markets. In recent years, tourist flows have increased, and the entry of potential investors has been facilitated," Papoyan noted.
The rationale for the draft decision developed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs indicates that this takes into account the strategic goals of activating the economic component of the RA foreign policy and stimulating tourism.
"Currently, a visa-free entry regime is established for citizens of the United States, the European Union, the Schengen Agreement, the UAE, Qatar and Kuwait. In this context, the liberalization of the visa regime will also contribute to increasing the investment attractiveness of the Republic of Armenia, encouraging visits by a greater number of investors, entrepreneurs and business circles from this group of countries," the document notes.
