Why UAE Lifted Visa Ban on Nigerians After 26 Months
On Monday, September 11, 2023, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu announced the lifting of the visa ban placed on Nigerian travelers to the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The 26-month ban is being lifted after Tinubu’s meeting with President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan of the UAE held on Monday in Abu Dhabi.
Ajuri Ngelale, the spokesperson and special adviser to President Tinubu, confirmed the news in a press release, revealing that the negotiations also paved the way for the resumption of flight schedules between Nigeria and the UAE by Etihad Airlines and Emirates Airlines without any further delay.
“Furthermore, by this historic agreement, both Etihad Airlines and Emirates Airlines are to immediately resume flight schedules into and out of Nigeria, without any further delay,” the statement read in part.
The visa ban on Nigerians by the UAE was initially imposed in July 2021 following a violent clash involving Nigerian nationals in Sharjah. Also, in October 2022, when videos of stranded Nigerians at a Dubai airport went viral on social media, the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs later announced that the UAE had introduced a new visa regime, restricting tourist visas to individuals under the age of 40, with exceptions for those applying for family visas.
The United Arab Emirates consists of seven emirates: Abu Dhabi, the capital, Ajman, Dubai, Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah, Sharjah, and Umm Al Quwain.
It is expected that this diplomatic breakthrough will not only restore ease of travel for Nigerians but also open the doors to a significant boost in economic cooperation and investment opportunities between Nigeria and the UAE.
