UAE at last lifts Visa ban on Nigerians, Emirate to resume flights to Nigeria

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has lifted its Visa ban on Nigerians. Mohammed Idris, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, has said at the end of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting in Abuja.“You are aware that Nigeria has been discussing with the United Arab Emirates on the issue of Visa for Nigerian passport holders going to the United Arab Emirates. Today, an agreement has been reached on that, and effective from today July 15, Nigerian passport holders are able to obtain Visa to go to the United Arab Emirates. “I can tell you that the agreement has been reached and effective from today, Nigerian passport holders intending to travel to the UAE are able to do so,” he said. As a result Nigeria and UAE are to resume flights between both countries, minister said.

It will be recalled that UAE stopped issuing visas to Nigerians in 2022 after Dubai’s Emirates Airline suspended flights between the countries due to an inability to repatriate funds from Nigeria. Nigeria’s central bank has since cleared a backlog of around $137 million in foreign exchange owed to international airlines. Information Minister Mohammed Idris said the deal includes the resumption of visa issuance to Nigerian passport holders for travel to the UAE, effective from Monday. “This agreement includes updated controls and conditions to facilitate obtaining a UAE visa,” Idris said in a statement. In May, Emirates said it would resume flight schedules to Nigeria in October, ending a nearly two-year halt to flights.