The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has reportedly imposed a visa ban on citizens from nine African and Asian countries, preventing them from applying for tourist and work permits.
The ban has been applied to nationals from Uganda, Sudan, Libya, Cameroon, Lebanon, Yemen, Somalia, Afghanistan and Bangladesh.
However, according to an immigration circular, it has been confirmed that applications from these countries are suspended until further notice, and no work visas are being processed.
The UAE government has not released any official explanation for the ban, but experts speculate it is due to security concerns, diplomatic tensions and a review of policies introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic.
It has been observed that the Gulf state has previously imposed measures on Nigerian applicants for a specific time period.
The visa ban has caused major uncertainties for expatriates who rely on the UAE for employment opportunities.
The countries that are not enlisted in the ban can continue applying under standard UAE procedures.
Officials are reminding all visitors that compliance with health and safety protocols is mandatory.
The UAE has temporarily suspended the issuance of work visas, and people with existing UAE visas are not affected.