Hong Kong secures visa-free entry to UAE, eased rules for Oman

Hong Kong has secured relaxed visa arrangements for entry to some Gulf countries, as the financial hub signed a combined 59 memorandums of understanding (MOUs) and agreements with Qatar and Kuwait during the city leader’s four-day trip to promote bilateral trade amid escalating geopolitical tensions.

Leading a 50-strong delegation of business leaders and entrepreneurs from Hong Kong and mainland China, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said on Wednesday that the city was also seeking to work out a free-trade agreement with Gulf states.

He announced visa-free arrangements for holders of Hong Kong passports, allowing Hongkongers to enter Qatar and the United Arab Emirates without visas for 30 days. The visa-free period for those entering Oman will be extended from 10 days to 14 days starting from May 15, along with the new arrangements for the UAE.

“It is a fruitful trip,” Lee said on Wednesday, the last day of the tour. He also thanked the leaders of Qatar and Kuwait for their hospitality and friendship.

“During this trip, we built friendships and expanded our circle of friends to two more Gulf states,” he said.

Taking into account a 2023 trip to Saudi Arabia and the UAE, Lee has visited four of the six Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states.

Hong Kong’s delegation to Kuwait signed 24 MOUs and deals, with talks under way for investment promotion and promotion agreements.