The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has announced an immediate ban and issuance of 30-day visas (visit visas) to Ugandans and other nationals from 20 other countries that seek to visit Dubai with immediate effect until further notice.
A notice released by UAE indicated that; “this is to inform you that we will not be posting 30 days visa applications for these nationalities effective today October 18, 2022.”
Sources said the move was aimed at keeping away African nationalities who had taken advantage of the visit visas to overstay in the UAE.
The notice was also issued to trade partners who among others included travel agents and copied to airplane companies with the UAE authorities indicating that all applications should be rejected.
“Any applications from the above mentioned countries will be sent back or canceled.” UAE indicated.
Countries affected by the visa ban also include Ghana, Democratic Republic of Congo, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Cameroon, Nigeria, Liberia, Burundi, Republic of Guinea, Gambia, Togo, Senegal, Benin, Ivory Coast, Congo, Rwanda, Burkina Faso, Guinea Bissau, Comoros, and the Dominican Republic.
The UAE government issues several types of visas and entry permits based on the purpose of one’s visit and some of these include tourist visas, patient and his/her companion entry permits, e-Visa for Co operation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC) residents, retirement visa for UAE residents, transit visa, student visa and work visa among others.
The visit visas cost between $100-$120 (sh380,000) and travelers holding a passport can obtain a visa on arrival free of charge for a maximum stay of 30 days in the UAE or may pay an amount of money on arrival.
To receive a visa on arrival you must, hold a passport valid at least six months on entry with one blank visa page, hold proof of sufficient funds, hold proof of onward/return flights, hold all documents required for the next destination, confirm with their airline that boarding will permitted without a visa.
If one intends to stay longer than 30 days, then he/she is, may request more time from the immigration officer at the airport or contact the local immigration office in the UAE and request an extension.
Ronnie Mukandane, spokesperson of the Uganda Association of External Recruitment Agencies (UAERA), on Sunday confirmed the notice and said UAE had taken the decision after unscrupulous Ugandans and other nationalities had taken advantage of the short-term visas to traffic people.
He said the directive had no effects on them directly as UAERA since their workers travel on work visas.
The ban on short-term visas comes hardly a month after UAE announced that no Ugandans and Nigerians would effective October 6, be allowed into the country without a certificate of good conduct and about 5,000 Dirham (sh5.3 million) in their bank account.
The directive also comes in the wake of the deportation of several Ugandans whose visas had expired and were staying in the country illegally.
Recent reports indicated that there were over 1,000 Ugandans detained for weeks in Dubai Central Jail and other places. Recently, the UAE government offered free air tickets to all illegal migrants to return home on condition that they surrender to the immigration authorities for scrutiny.
Henry Mayega, Consul General of Uganda’s Consulate in Dubai, in a recent interview said there were 105 men, 500 women, infants, and pregnant mothers who were due to be flown back to Uganda.
Uganda has over 100,000 legal migrant workers employed in UAE, some working as house cleaners, and saloons among others.
