The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has reportedly imposed a visa ban on citizens from nine African and Asian countries from applying for tourist and work permits.
The report states that although no official confirmation has been released, an internal immigration circular accessed by multiple media outlets, suggests this major policy shift.
The declaration is part of UAE’s 2026 visa ban and affects immigrants from around five African and four other countries. Individuals who already hold valid UAE visas are not affected by this suspension.
The ban covers nine countries across Africa and Asia, indicating a policy influenced by global rather than regional concerns. This includes Uganda, Sudan, Somalia, Cameroon, and Libya, as well as South and Western Asia, including Afghanistan, Yemen, Lebanon, and Bangladesh.