Reprieve for Somali entrepreneurs as UAE opens visa consulate in Mogadishu

To strengthen ties with Somalia, the United Arab Emirates embassy in Somalia launched visa consular services in Mogadishu on Sunday for the first time since the Somali State's collapse in 1991.

Speaking during the official ceremony to re-open the visa consulate, UAE Ambassador to Somalia Ahmed Juma Al-Rumaithi said the move will ease the UAE visa application process for locals and improve ties and commerce between Somalia and the UAE.

"The re-opening of the visa consulate is aimed at strengthening the historic ties between our two communities and countries. The UAE is known for its support to Somalia and promotion of development and this is why we today open this visa consulate section which will handle all visa and travel needs for Somali nationals," Amb. Al-Rumaithi told reporters.

The latest move by the UAE shows Somalia's improving foreign relations and confidence with the rest of the world as the country reels back from nearly three decades of war and conflict.

Somalia Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism Daud Aweis welcomed the new UAE visa consular services launch in Mogadishu saying the move will improve trade between the two countries and further deepen relations between the two countries.

"This move not only simplifies the visa application process for Somali nationals but also demonstrates the mutual dedication of both countries to bolster diplomatic relations and promote cooperation," the Minister posted on X.

"We anticipate a future of increased partnership and mutual achievements between our two nations," he added.

Ordinary Somalis also welcomed the move. During the civil war in Somalia, the UAE was the main trading partner for Somalia. As a country that imports almost everything, most of Somalia's imports come from the UAE.

Haji Ali Mohamed, a Somali entrepreneur in the import and export business said before he had to wait for months for his visas to be approved from Dubai. He now hopes the new consulate will speed up the visa process.

"This is very good news for my business as well as for many other Somali entrepreneurs. I used to wait for more than a month sometimes to get my visa even after applying online. I hope this new visa consulate will expedite the visa process," Haji Mohamed told The Eastleigh Voice. 

The UAE and Somalia enjoy cordial relations. Both countries are members of the Arab League. Diplomatic relations between the two countries were re-established in 2014. Somalia's embassy in the UAE is based in Abu Dhabi.

Early last year, Somalia and the UAE signed an agreement to bolster military and security ties, along with cooperation in anti-terrorism efforts. The deal was inked in Abu Dhabi by Somali Defense Minister Abdulkadir Mohamed Nur and his UAE counterpart Mohammed bin Ahmed al-Bowardi.

In terms of trade, according to the Observatory of Economic Complexity (OEC), in 2022, UAE imports from Somalia stood at $480 million while Somalia imports from the UAE were estimated to be around $643 million. 

Major imports from the UAE included rolled tobacco, electronics and concentrated milk. Gold and livestock are the leading exports from Somalia to the UAE.