Indonesia, UAE Explore Visa Waiver and Aviation Cooperation

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesia is considering reciprocal visa exemptions and expanded aviation cooperation with the United Arab Emirates (UAE), a move aimed at strengthening bilateral ties and improving services for Indonesian pilgrims traveling for umrah.

Coordinating Minister for Law, Human Rights, Immigration, and Corrections, Yusril Ihza Mahendra, raised the proposal during a bilateral meeting with the UAE Ambassador to Indonesia in Jakarta on Tuesday, February 10, 2026. 

He noted that growing mobility between the two nations underscores the importance of closer collaboration in immigration and air transport.

Minister Yusril also highlighted existing cooperation in trade and energy, while reaffirming President Prabowo Subianto’s directive to deepen partnerships across strategic sectors. 

“The establishment of Danantara as a government investment institution, along with cooperation with the Dubai Fund, is expected to accelerate national development and economic growth,” he said.

Beyond trade and energy, Minister Yusril pointed to opportunities in education, labor, and healthcare. He expressed appreciation for the UAE’s support in building mosques and health facilities, and voiced hope for stronger collaboration in medical services to address Indonesia’s shortage of doctors and advanced hospitals.

Responding to the proposals, UAE Ambassador Abdulla Salem Aldhahheri announced that Etihad Airways is planning direct flights from Abu Dhabi to Medan and Surabaya, while Emirates Airlines is seeking permits to operate wide-body aircraft to boost connectivity between the two countries.

The ambassador emphasized that Indonesia-UAE relations have grown significantly, noting three visits by Indonesia’s president to the UAE and the celebration of 50 years of diplomatic ties. 

A visit by the UAE president to Indonesia is also being planned. “What once centered on traditional sectors such as ports and oil has now expanded to strategic areas including renewable energy, defense, healthcare, and education,” he said.

Concrete projects already underway include the establishment of a cardiac hospital in Surakarta, a mangrove research center in Bali, and academic collaboration between Nahdlatul Ulama University Yogyakarta and Zayed University in the humanities. These initiatives, he added, are expected to create jobs and foster knowledge transfer.

The ambassador also welcomed Indonesia’s immigration facilitation for UAE citizens, whose numbers continue to rise, while noting untapped potential in geothermal energy cooperation with Pertamina that has yet to be fully developed on a bilateral basis. ***