The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has reintroduced sweeping visa restrictions targeting Nigerian travellers, including a fresh ban on transit visa applications, according to new directives issued to travel agents on Tuesday.
Under the updated rules, Nigerian citizens between the ages of 18 and 45 are no longer eligible to apply for tourist visas unless accompanied. Additionally, applicants aged 45 and above are now required to submit a six-month personal bank statement showing a consistent monthly balance of at least $10,000 or its naira equivalent.
The notice, reportedly issued by Dubai immigration, stated that “an applicant aged 18 to 45 years travelling alone is not eligible for tourist visa category.”
The update also stressed that there will be “no more Transit Visa applications” accepted for Nigerian nationals, effectively barring stopover entries through UAE airports.
This development comes nearly a year after both nations announced a resolution to a two-year-long diplomatic standoff that led to a previous visa ban on Nigerian citizens. However, even after the diplomatic thaw, many Nigerians continued to face hurdles securing UAE travel documents due to stringent conditions.
Industry insiders say the current review could worsen access for Nigerian travellers in the coming days, with travel agents already warning of further tightening.
The UAE government has not publicly commented on the reason behind the new restrictions, but immigration observers believe the move may be tied to broader regional security, immigration policy shifts, or diplomatic tensions.
More Stories
I’ll Ban Resident Doctors, Consultants from Striking if I Become PM —Kemi Badenoch
Assistant Corps Marshal ‘Leye Adegboyega Appointed New FRSC Zonal Commanding Officer for Bauchi
Trump Blasts CNN Over Iran Ceasefire Report, Links Story to ‘Fake News from Nigeria’