Antigua and Barbuda Signs Visa-Free Deal with UAE

Antigua and Barbuda has signed a Visa Waiver agreement with the United Arab Emirates (UAE), opening the door to expanded travel, investment, and business opportunities between the Caribbean state and the Gulf nation.

The formal signing took place on the margins of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly. Antigua and Barbuda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, the E.P. Chet Greene, and the UAE’s Minister of State for International Cooperation, Reem bint Ebrahim Al Hashimy, executed the agreement during a brief ceremony that highlighted the strong ties between the two countries.

The UAE has become a significant development partner for Antigua and Barbuda, with projects that directly benefit both Antigua and Barbuda, particularly Barbuda. A central example is the US$50 million UAE-Caribbean Renewable Energy Fund (UAE-CREF), which supports the Green Barbuda Project.

The initiative includes an 800kW diesel plant and a 720kW hybrid solar plant, generating substantial energy savings for the government while advancing renewable energy goals.

Foreign Minister Greene described the signing as “a major step in our diplomatic relations.” He added: “What we have achieved today demonstrates the enduring bonds of friendship between our two nations. For Antigua and Barbuda, as a small island developing state, I foresee new opportunities across sectors such as tourism, education, and beyond.”

The agreement underscores Antigua and Barbuda’s view of the UAE as a trusted partner in sustainable development and international cooperation. The hope is that visa-free travel will further boost Emirati investment while enabling Antiguans and Barbudans to benefit from easier access to the UAE for business, culture, and education.

In attendance at the signing were Antigua and Barbuda’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Walton Webson; H.E. Gilbert Boustany; H.E. Mohammed El Zohbi; and Asha Challenger, First Secretary at the Antigua and Barbuda Mission.

With the agreement in place, Antigua and Barbuda joins a growing number of Caribbean nations strengthening travel links with the UAE.

Officials see the waiver as both a diplomatic milestone and an economic advantage, enhancing the country’s global connectivity and positioning it for deeper cooperation in the years ahead.