The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has announced new, stricter visa requirements for Nigerian travelers, including a ban on transit visa applications. This move is expected to significantly reduce the number of Nigerians visiting Dubai for tourism or business.
These latest immigration directives were issued to travel agents by Dubai authorities barely a year after the UAE lifted a two-year visa ban on Nigerian citizens.
Under the new guidelines, Nigerians aged between 18 and 45 will no longer be granted tourist visas unless they are accompanied by someone deemed acceptable under UAE regulations.
In an even more significant change, the UAE has also suspended all applications for transit visas from Nigerian citizens. This effectively eliminates the option of stopover travel via Dubai for Nigerians heading to other destinations.
Travel agents speaking with Daily Trust predict that this development will drastically impact international travel routes and airline bookings for Nigerians who commonly use Dubai as a major connection hub.
