Nigeria is excluded from the United Arab Emirates’ newly introduced five-year multiple-entry tourist visa, which further strains diplomatic relations between the two nations. This exclusion follows the UAE’s decision in 2022 to stop issuing visas to Nigerian citizens, among others, without providing detailed explanations.
The new visa policy, announced by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum in 2021, aims to enhance the UAE’s global economic standing by facilitating tourism and business activities. The five-year multiple-entry tourist visa allows travelers to enter and leave the UAE multiple times, provided they spend at least 90 days in the country during each visit. The maximum permitted stay within a year is capped at 180 days.
The abrupt halt of visa issuances to Nigerian nationals in 2022 disrupted travel and led to the suspension of flights between the two countries after Emirates Airlines cited trapped revenues. Now, as the UAE unveils its ambitious visa scheme, the…