The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has announced a ban on visit and work visas for citizens of nine countries, including Bangladesh, effective from January 2026. While the UAE government has not yet published any official information regarding the directive on its website, Uganda’s State Minister for Foreign Affairs (International Cooperation), Oriem Henry Okello, confirmed to China’s Xinhua news agency that Uganda is included in the list.
Under the new measure, citizens of the affected countries will not be able to apply for UAE visas until further notice. This includes travel, work, or business-related entry applications, which have also been canceled.
According to travel portal uaevisaonline.com, the nine countries under the visa restriction are Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Libya, Yemen, Somalia, Lebanon, Cameroon, Sudan, and Uganda. The UAE government has not publicly stated the reasons for the ban.
Sources suggest the restrictions are primarily aimed at preventing issues such as: entry using fake or fraudulent visas, use of false identity or passports, overstaying visa validity, involvement in criminal activities or pending legal cases, working without proper authorization, and failure to meet COVID-19 testing or vaccination requirements.
The ban is considered temporary and could be reviewed based on security and health assessments in the UAE.
It should be noted that individuals who already hold valid UAE visas are not affected by this restriction. However, the ban has caused difficulties for expatriates from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and several African countries seeking visa renewals or new employment opportunities.
Bangladesh is currently under a partial UAE visa restriction. In the case of Uganda, Minister Okello clarified that long-term visas for certain categories of citizens will be suspended, but the restriction is not a complete travel ban. Short-term visas will still be issued, while some groups will be denied entry altogether.
Okello added that the UAE authorities are mainly targeting individuals considered unlikely to return home after their visa expires or those perceived at risk of engaging in illegal activities.
He emphasized that this is not a total ban; some people may still be allowed to travel depending on their likelihood to comply with UAE laws and respect the country’s culture.
Discussions between Uganda and the UAE regarding lifting the restriction are not expected to begin immediately. The new rule will take effect in January 2026.
