Today, Sunday, European Union countries begin implementing the new Entry and Exit System (EES), which requires registering passport data and biometric information (photo and fingerprints) upon first entry at any EU border crossing point.

The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, via its official account on X, urged UAE citizens traveling to take this into account, noting that holders of diplomatic passports are exempt from the procedure.

Since May 2015, the UAE became the first Arab country exempted from visa requirements for the Schengen area, allowing its citizens holding diplomatic, special, mission, and ordinary passports to travel to European countries for up to six months per year, with a maximum stay of 90 days per visit.

The official website of the ETIAS system, responsible for European travel information and authorization, stated that the new system requires visitors from outside the EU to register their fingerprints and facial images when crossing into the passport-free Schengen area.

The new biometric database at the EU level will gradually replace manual passport stamps and digitally track travelers’ movements across 29 countries.

The EES system is scheduled to be fully operational by April 10, 2026. Travelers from outside the EU and Schengen area must scan their passports and provide fingerprints and a facial photo upon their first arrival. This data will be stored for three years, creating a digital record linked to each traveler’s identity and passport.

The site noted that children under 12 still need to register but only need to provide a photograph, and there is no fee for registering with the EES system.

The European Commission said the system aims to modernize border management, enhance security, and detect overstayers by automatically tracking the 90-day visa-free stay limit within a 180-day period. It also replaces manual passport stamping.

The system covers all travelers from outside the EU entering the Schengen area, which includes 25 EU countries plus Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein. Ireland and Cyprus are not part of it and will continue manual passport checks.

The site indicated that nationals from visa-exempt countries—including the UK, USA, Canada, Japan, and Australia—must complete EES registration the first time they enter the Schengen area after the system starts.

For frequent travelers, the system aims to speed up future trips; after initial registration, subsequent crossings will require only facial recognition instead of the full process. EES registration points will be established at all international airports, seaports, and major land borders entering Schengen.

The UAE passport has maintained its position as the world’s strongest passport, according to the Passport Index by Arton Capital, a global financial advisory firm. The interactive system ranks the strength of passports from 198 countries worldwide.

According to the latest update, the UAE passport currently allows its holder to travel to 179 countries without a prior visa, representing over 90% of the world’s countries listed in the index. This ranking is based on the number of destinations citizens can travel to without pre-arranged visas or with visa-on-arrival access.

The UAE passport has held the top position as the world’s strongest passport since December 1, 2018, regained it again in 2021, and has maintained its status since then.

The UAE passport offers many benefits and positive returns to its citizens, including ease of travel worldwide for tourism, education, or medical treatment, as well as economic, developmental, and humanitarian advantages by facilitating trade and investment for individuals and institutions.