BREAKING: UAE Slams Fresh Stringent Visa Conditions on Nigerians, Bans Transit Visa Applications

UAE Slams Fresh Stringent Visa Conditions on Nigerians, Bans Transit Visa Applications

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has once again introduced more stringent visa restrictions targeting Nigerian travelers, including an outright suspension of transit visa applications for Nigerian nationals.

According to a notice sent to travel agencies on Tuesday, July 8, and obtained by News Week Nigeria, the UAE authorities have rolled out new guidelines that are expected to significantly curtail the flow of Nigerian visitors to the country, particularly to Dubai — a top destination for Nigerian tourists and business travelers.

Under the updated policy, Nigerian applicants between the ages of 18 and 45 are now barred from obtaining tourist visas unless they are accompanied. Additionally, those aged 45 and above must present a personal bank statement showing a minimum closing balance of $10,000 (or its naira equivalent) for each of the past six months, among other documentation requirements.

“Please bear in mind that an applicant aged 18 to 45 years travelling alone is not eligible for the tourist visa category,” the notice from Dubai immigration read in part. “Applicants 45 years and above must provide a single Nigerian personal bank statement for the last six months, with each month’s ending balance not less than USD 10,000.”

This development marks a significant setback barely a year after Nigeria and the UAE resolved a diplomatic row that led to a two-year visa ban on Nigerian travelers. Although the ban was lifted in late 2024, it came with rigorous entry requirements that many Nigerian travelers described as difficult to meet.

The latest move by UAE authorities appears to tighten the noose even further. Travel agents told News Week Nigeria that the new directives will not only disrupt existing travel plans but could also impact the tourism and business exchange between both nations.

“This will discourage a lot of people from even considering UAE as a destination,” a Lagos-based travel agent said. “The cost of meeting the requirements is just too high for the average traveler.”

There has been no official statement from Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs as of the time of filing this report. However, diplomatic sources say efforts are underway to engage UAE authorities for possible clarification and a path forward.

The UAE has not publicly given reasons for the renewed restrictions, but past tensions involving visa rackets, overstays, and other immigration violations have been cited in earlier diplomatic communications.

As the situation develops, many Nigerians with plans to visit the UAE are now left in limbo, facing the tough reality of increasingly limited access to one of their most frequented international destinations.