Economy Policy
UAE halts issuing new tourist and work visas for nine countries?
The 2026 UAE visa ban reflects evolving concerns over security, health, and migration governance.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has reportedly stopped issuing new tourist and work visas for nationals of nine countries across Africa and Asia.
Though no official confirmation has been publicly released, media reports cite an internal immigration circular indicating a significant policy shift, one with far-reaching economic, diplomatic, and humanitarian consequences.
According to a confidential immigration circular accessed by multiple media outlets, the UAE has imposed a temporary suspension on new visa applications from these countries: Africa’s Uganda, Sudan, Somalia, Cameroon, and Libya, and Asia’s Afghanistan, Yemen, Lebanon, and Bangladesh.
According to various sources, the visa ban took effect immediately, and importantly, individuals who already hold valid UAE visas are not affected and may continue to travel, live, and work in the country.
As for the reasons behind the UAE’s visa suspension, analysts cited by Times of Dubai suggest the decision is driven by a mix of safety, political, and health considerations.
The suspension is reportedly a response to fraudulent documentation and identity verification issues, unlawful migration and overstays, and security and geopolitical concerns.
This makes the suspension broader than a regional issue, reflecting a policy influenced by global risk factors.
However, a report by Khaleej Times clarified that there is no official announcement regarding a visa ban on Bangladeshi nationals. Tareq Ahmed, Bangladesh’s Ambassador to the UAE, clarified that reports circulating on social media and some websites are not attributed to any UAE government officials.
But the Ambassador did not deny the UAE visa ban for the other eight countries.
Md. Rashedujjaman, the consul-general of Bangladesh in Dubai and Northern Emirates, said the country is in discussions with the UAE government to ease visa procedures for Bangladeshi nationals. “We want to see Bangladeshi nationals become a part of the UAE's success story,” he said during an interview with Khaleej Times on the occasion of Bangladesh’s 55th Independence and National Day in Dubai.
This 2026 UAE visa ban will affect thousands of workers and their families across Africa and Asia, many of whom depend on UAE employment for income and remittances.
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Recruitment agencies and businesses that rely on talent from these countries will also face immediate restrictions on hiring.
For now, it remains unclear how long the suspension will remain in place or what conditions might lead to its reversal.
Observers note that this development underscores the UAE’s shift toward tighter migration governance as part of its 2026 strategy.
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