The United States has announced it will waive visa requirements for citizens of Qatar, marking the Gulf state as the first Arab nation and the second Muslim-majority country to join the expedited travel program to the U.S. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security confirmed on Tuesday that Qatar met the necessary security criteria, becoming the 42nd member of the visa waiver program.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated that this agreement would strengthen the strategic partnership between the U.S. and Qatar, enhancing the movement of people and trade. Qatar’s population is approximately 2.6 million, with only around 313,000 being citizens. The visa waiver program primarily benefits wealthier Western European and Asian countries, with Israel being added last year.
Qatar has a GDP per capita of $87,661, exceeding that of the U.S. by about $10,000. U.S. officials indicated a possibility for other Gulf nations to join the program in the future, with Brunei being the only other Muslim-majority country currently in it.
Qatar is a significant U.S. ally, hosting al-Udeid Air Base, the largest U.S. military installation in the Middle East, which serves as the forward operating headquarters for U.S. forces in the region. Approximately 10,000 U.S. troops are stationed in Qatar, and in January, the Biden administration extended its military presence at the base for another ten years.
Despite facing a blockade from neighboring countries over its ties to the Muslim Brotherhood, Qatar has maintained its partnership with the U.S. It has also played a role in facilitating the evacuation of Afghan allies and mediating for a ceasefire in Gaza.
However, Qatar has faced criticism from some U.S. lawmakers regarding its relationship with Hamas. Once based in Syria, Hamas relocated to Qatar in 2012 after falling out with the Syrian government. According to Qatari officials, the U.S. requested Qatar to host Hamas leaders to keep communication open. In June, reports indicated that both Qatar and Egypt warned Hamas officials of potential consequences if they did not agree to a ceasefire with Israel.
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