UAE Simplifies Visa Regime: Limited Access for African Nations

By Milcah Tanimu

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has announced a significant simplification of its visa regime, granting visa-on-arrival access to citizens of 87 countries. However, it’s notable that among African nations, only Mauritius and Seychelles are included in this update, while countries like Nigeria, Ghana, and Kenya are currently excluded.

Previously, visitors from many countries needed pre-arranged visas, often involving application fees and processing times. The new policy streamlines entry for a wider range of nationalities, including key markets such as Argentina, Canada, China, France, Russia, and the United States.

Under the new visa-on-arrival privileges, visitors from eligible countries can stay for up to 30 days with the option of a 10-day extension. Some nationalities may also be eligible for a longer 90-day visa upon arrival.

This reform reflects the UAE’s ambition to strengthen its position as a global tourism hub, with Dubai being a major beneficiary. The city attracts visitors for leisure, business, and conferences, and the streamlined visa process is expected to further boost tourism.

Here is the full list of countries granted visa-on-arrival access to the UAE:

[Full list of countries]

• Albania
• Andorra
• Argentina
• Austria
• Australia
• Azerbaijan
• Bahrain
• Barbados
• Brazil
• Belarus
• Belgium
• Brunei
• Bulgaria
• Canada
• Chile
• China
• Colombia
• Costa Rica
• Croatia
• Cyprus
• Czech Republic
• Denmark
• El Salvador
• Estonia
• Finland
• France
• Georgia
• Germany
• Honduras
• Hungary
• Hong Kong (Special Administrative Region of China)
• Iceland
• Israel
• Italy
• Japan
• Kazakhstan
• Kiribati
• Kuwait
• Latvia
• Liechtenstein
• Lithuania
• Luxembourg
• Malaysia
• Maldives
• Malta
• Mauritius
• Mexico
• Monaco
• Montenegro
• Nauru
• New Zealand
• Norway
• Oman
• Paraguay
• Peru
• Poland
• Portugal
• Qatar
• Republic of Ireland
• Romania
• Russia
• Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
• San Marino
• Saudi Arabia
• Seychelles
• Serbia
• Singapore
• Slovakia
• Slovenia
• Solomon Islands
• South Korea
• Spain
• Sweden
• Switzerland
• The Bahamas
• The Netherlands
• UK
• US
• Ukraine
• Uruguay
• Vatican
• Hellenic
• Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Armenia
• Fiji
• Kosovo

This move is expected to facilitate easier travel and promote tourism between the UAE and the listed countries, fostering economic and cultural exchange.