UAE lifts visa ban on Nigerians, introduces digital verification requirement

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has lifted its visa ban on Nigerian nationals, which had been in place since 2022.

 However, the Gulf nation now mandates a digital verification process for Nigerians seeking visas.

According to Nigerian Minister of Information Mohammed Idris, the UAE’s decision follows “mutually beneficial negotiations” between the two governments.

Nigerian visa applicants will need to provide identity documents and travel history to generate a verification number, UAE authorities stated. Exceptions are granted for applicants aged 13 or younger.

This announcement reopens a popular route for business and leisure travelers, as trade relations between the two countries have grown.

The UAE’s visa ban was initially imposed due to allegations of misconduct and attempts to bypass visa regulations.

The situation escalated when the Nigerian government reduced Emirates Airlines’ flights to Nigeria from 21 times per week to just one.

This action was reportedly in retaliation for the UAE’s refusal to allow Nigerian Airline Air Peace to operate three weekly flights to Dubai, approving only one.

Emirates suspended flights to Nigeria at the end of 2022, citing difficulties in repatriating millions of dollars in revenue from the country.

However, upon taking office in May 2023, Nigerian President Bola Tinubu began engaging with UAE officials, including President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, to resolve the deadlock.

The lifting of the ban this week follows Emirates’ announcement in May of the resumption of daily flights between Lagos and Dubai starting in October.

“The Lagos-Dubai route is traditionally popular with Nigerian customers,” said Adnan Kazim, Emirates’ Chief Commercial Officer, in May.

He added that the resumption would include “more than 300 tons” of weekly cargo capacity in the lower decks of passenger aircraft arriving in and departing from Lagos.