Russian Federation citizens will be allowed an entry visa for 30 days . Russian Federation citizens will be allowed an entry visa for 30 days .

UAE prime minister Sheikh Mohammed has approved a cabinet decree that will see Russian citizens granted an entry visa at all entry points to the county.

The visa will allow citizens of the Russian Federation an entry visa for 30 days for the first time, renewable one time only for another 30 days, as per UAE regulations.

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The decree is hoped to develop economic and tourism ties between the two countries, and strengthen the UAE’s international competitiveness as a vibrant economic, commercial, and tourist hub in the region, news agency WAM reported.

More than 600,000 Russian tourists visited the UAE during the past two years, aided by the 56 weekly flights between the two countries by UAE National carriers Emirates and Etihad Airways. The number of flights are expected to increase on the back of this decree.

The UAE also ranks first in the GCC states as Russia’s most important business partner, with non-oil trade reaching $2.45 billion (AED9bn) in 2015.