KUWAIT CITY, April 10: Since the beginning of this year, the Spanish Embassy has issued more than 4,300 visas to Kuwaitis and expatriates; as well as Bahrainis who must apply for a tourist visa to enter Spain at the Spanish Embassy in Kuwait, reports Al-Qabas daily quoting Spanish Ambassador to Kuwait Miguel Moro Aguilar. Aguilar made the announcement during a Ghabka that he and embassy staff held in his residence for the journalists. He disclosed that the embassy issued about 25,000 visas annually before the corona pandemic.

He urged the citizens and expatriates to apply for a visa to enter Spain before the summer season to avoid crowding, stressing that applicants must submit all the required documents to avoid rejection. He said the embassy grants visas to both Kuwaitis and expatriates; asserting this is in the interest of many Gulf nationals, especially Kuwaitis, who intend to travel to his country for tourism especially during summer.

Exemption
He added: “We signed an agreement with Kuwait for the visa exemption of diplomatic passport holders in both countries in 2011. During the visit of Kuwaiti Foreign Affairs Minister Sheikh Dr Ahmad Nasser to Madrid, a new update on the agreement was signed in order to exempt special Kuwaiti and Spanish service passports. We are waiting for the Kuwaiti side to ratify it, so all the potential users can benefit from this agreement.” He stated that as of June 11, direct fl ights from Kuwait to Malaga and Madrid will be three times a week – every Saturday, Tuesday and Thursday through Kuwait Airways; and there will be some events in Madrid during those days. On June 11, the first direct fl ight will promote tourism and strengthen connection between the friendly nations. “We will try to organize some events here in Kuwait and the media will be invited as well,” he disclosed. On the opening of this new route to Madrid for the winter season, Aguilar affirmed the commitment to raise public awareness on the tourist attractions in Madrid and other parts of Spain, “beyond the fabulous and already well-known sites in Costa del Sol or Mallorca.”

Easy-going
He said: “Hundreds of golf courses, excellent health care, magnificent gastronomy and top restaurants, luxury shopping and a very easy-going lifestyle are just some of the features we want to show to our Kuwaiti friends who might not yet be aware of these features. Tens of thousands of Kuwaitis and expatriates in this beautiful country are already traveling to Spain every year. Some even own houses in Spain. We know that the best publicity we can do is just to let them talk about their great experience upon their return.” He added: “Our bilateral relations are very strong. Now that the Covid-19 pandemic has been put under control, at least for the time being, many new opportunities surfaced to boost relations in various fields, which go from the abovementioned tourism sector to sports, education, green economy, water, engineering projects or the health sector. Our diplomatic relations are fl uid and substantial. I am sure that the best part of our relations is still to be written.” He then expressed his deep appreciation for the valuable support provided by the media to the Spanish Embassy in Kuwait. He also expressed best wishes to all Kuwaitis and friends living in Kuwait on the occasion of the special month of Ramadan.