UAE’s visa update: Nigeria excluded from visa-on-arrival list

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has announced a dramatic overhaul of its visa system, giving visa-on-arrival access to nationals of 87 countries to encourage tourism.

Notably, Mauritius and Seychelles are the only African nations on the new list.

Previously, travellers from many countries had to go through the demanding process of getting pre-arranged visas, often involving application costs and lengthy processing delays.

The UAE’s plan to expand visa-on-arrival privileges to 87 nations intends to make admission easier for a wider range of nationalities, including significant markets such as Argentina, Canada, China, France, Russia, and the United States.

The new policy allows tourists to stay for 30 days, with the possibility of extending it for an additional 10 days. Furthermore, certain nations, although not clearly stated, may be eligible for an extended 90-day visa upon arrival.

This step demonstrates the UAE’s commitment to strengthening its position as a worldwide tourism centre. Dubai, in particular, aims to benefit considerably from its status as the headquarters of the worldwide airline Emirates. The city welcomes tourists for a variety of reasons, including leisure, business, and conventions.

However, the exclusion of significant African nations such as Nigeria, Ghana, and Kenya from the visa-on-arrival list raises questions about inclusivity and accessibility for visitors from these regions.

Despite this, the UAE’s aggressive steps aim to increase its popularity as a tourism and commercial destination. The UAE hopes to present itself as a top choice for visitors throughout the world by streamlining visa requirements and boosting access for travellers from various nations.

The following is the complete list of countries eligible for visa-on-arrival access:

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.