tough time for Canadians in the UAE

Canadians, beware:

(CNN) — Beginning in January, Canadian citizens visiting the United Arab Emirates will have to pay as much as 1,000 Canadian dollars to obtain a visa, according to the website of the UAE Embassy in Ottawa.

This major change in policy is the most recent development in the ongoing altercation between both countries over airline landing rights.

You might just think “fine, who cares?” But there must be a handful of Canadians for whom this is really going to suck unless the problem is quickly solved. There will be Canadians, that is, who have work needs in the UAE, are in relationships there, or whatever.

The last time I passed through Istanbul, the visa fee for Canadians was also outrageously higher than for any other country. I wonder if that was over landing rights as well.