Free UK visas, but only for certain nationalities. I'm not sure what is behind this ? The UKBA website says :

09 December 2013

From 1 January 2014, passport holders of Oman, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates will be able to visit the UK for up to 6 months using an electronic visa waiver (EVW).

The EVW, which can be created online, offers a free, fast and simple alternative to a visit visa.

From 9 December 2013, applicants from the 3 countries can download an EVW using our visa applications system Visa4UK. It can be used for travel to the UK on or after 1 January 2014.

The EVW must be completed at least 48 hours before travelling to the UK. EVW will be available for visits of up to 6 months. However, those coming to the UK to work or study will still need to apply for visas in the normal way.

For full details of the changes please see the 'statement of changes to the immigration rules (HC 887)' and the 'explanatory memorandum' on the right side of this page. A written ministerial statement can found on the gov.uk website.

Does this mean that there will be soon be different classes of visa applicant ? Those who qualify for free visit visa, and those will continue to have to pay ? And what are the criteria for deciding which nationalities should visit free ?

Sounds like they are handing out freebies to oil-rich sheiks to come shopping whilst the poor can stay away, or pay through the nose as usual.

"Does this mean that there will be soon be different classes of visa applicant ?"

Presumably yes, those from rich, 'safe' (ie safe to assume that applicants from these countries won't overstay, claim benefits or asylum) countries, such as the Gulf States, who can be trusted to enter the country for free and those from poorer, 'high-risk' countries who can't.

UK cosying up to other nations as potential substitutes for when they pull back from the EU?

Though they may well be looking for the rich Arabs, there are poor ones too, "with no reason to return",

^ Most of the poor ones are non-Arabs, who would have to apply in their own countries of origin.

Can't see the point in this; why not simply go the whole hog and make nationals of these states non visa nationals like, for example, the USA?

Good point.

Let's face it anyone coming on those passports won't be here to work in the black economy.

Those countries are on the European Common Visa list. Therefore, unless all the EU member countries agree to exclude them, they will continue to remain visa nationals. Their nationals do not represent a problem to the UK and so it it is logical to choose them as a pilot for what will be a new scheme for other visa nationals.

Perhaps in a few hundred years Thailand may well be treated thus.

I think a couple of the 9/11 hijackers had UAE passports ?

^ Oops, don't tell anyone.

OIL.....