China-UAE visa exemption agreement enters its eighth anniversary, with the rapid increase in the exchange of people between the two countries.

January 16, 2026 marks the 8th anniversary of the implementation of the visa exemption agreement between China and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The Urumqi Tian Shan International Airport in Xinjiang has witnessed a rapid growth in the exchange of people between the two countries. Over the past eight years, "traveling with a regular passport can be done easily" has become a daily routine for citizens of both China and the UAE to cross borders. According to statistics from the Urumqi Immigration Inspection Station, since the resumption of the Urumqi-Dubai route on September 25, 2025, the airport has efficiently cleared more than 9000 passengers traveling between China and the UAE. The passenger flow has been steadily increasing. Currently, the China Southern Airlines flight CZ6069/6070 operates regularly on Mondays and Fridays between Urumqi and Dubai, providing a stable and convenient air channel for business negotiations, family visits, and academic exchanges.