Etihad Airways, the national airline of the UAE, plans to start direct flights between Baku and Abu Dhabi, Dashgin Shikarov, Azerbaijani ambassador to the UAE, told Trend Oct. 5.

He added that the negotiations are underway regarding this issue.

Air Arabia, the low-cost airline of the UAE, may also open direct flights from Sharjah, the third largest city in the UAE, to Baku and other cities of Azerbaijan, the diplomat said.

Air Arabia may start flights in 2017, he noted.

Azerbaijan simplified visa regime for citizens of a number of Gulf countries, including the UAE, on Nov. 10, 2015.

The UAE citizens get visa upon arrival in Azerbaijan at any international airport of the country. This visa is valid for 30 days.

This simplified visa system with the UAE has led to a significant increase in the number of tourists coming from the UAE to Azerbaijan.

The number of the tourists, coming to Azerbaijan from UAE, increased by 10 times in January-August 2016 as compared to the same period of 2015, the Azerbaijani Ministry of Culture and Tourism said earlier.

Source: en.trend.az