Tension is rising among Nigerian travellers and travel agencies following a new wave of visa restrictions imposed by the United Arab Emirates (UAE), barely a year after an initial travel ban was lifted. Effective July 9, 2025, the UAE has issued stricter immigration rules targeting Nigerian nationals, significantly tightening access to tourist and transit visas.
Travel agents across Lagos and Abuja confirmed that new instructions were issued Tuesday from Dubai Immigration, explicitly stating that Nigerians between the ages of 18 and 45 will no longer be granted tourist visas if they are travelling alone. Applicants aged 45 and above are now mandated to show a six-month personal bank statement with a monthly minimum closing balance of $10,000 (or its naira equivalent) before their application will even be considered.
Transit visas have also been completely scrapped for Nigerian passport holders, a development industry insiders say will disrupt connecting flights through Dubai, especially on popular carriers like Emirates and Etihad. Many travellers who had booked layovers through the UAE are now in limbo, with some considering rerouting through Qatar or Egypt to avoid delays.
This policy shift comes despite President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s earlier diplomatic engagement with the UAE, which led to the September 2023 lifting of a previous two-year visa ban. At the time, hopes were high that travel and business ties between the two nations would normalize. However, this latest measure casts doubt on the true durability of that détente.
According to sources close to UAE officials, the renewed restrictions stem from alleged abuses of visa categories, concerns over overstays, and rising reports of Nigerians involved in illicit activities. Yet critics argue that such a blanket policy unfairly punishes law-abiding citizens and business travellers seeking legitimate access to one of the Middle East’s top hubs.
Nigerian travel operators fear the impact will hit hardest among students, freelancers, and small business owners who frequently rely on Dubai for sourcing goods, conferences, or simply transiting to other destinations. Several major travel agencies have already suspended UAE-bound ticketing for clients between the newly blacklisted age range.
Calls are now mounting for the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to intervene diplomatically. Civil society groups are urging Abuja to address the deepening perception of discrimination against Nigerians abroad and to push for more bilateral transparency in future visa arrangements.
