New tourist visas and visit visas are suspended temporarily following enhanced public health measures for passengers arriving from three African countries Mauritius, Kenya and Tanzania from the UAE. The NCEMA and the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) officially implemented the emergency directive at 1:00 PM, Saturday, June 6, 2026.
The interim solution will bolster the country’s readiness to prevent any future Ebola virus epidemic outbreak and enable officials and Ebola partners to re-evaluate a risk assessment.
Which Countries Are Included in the UAE Visa Suspension?
The suspension of Visa temporarily affects nationals and travelers from the following three countries only:
- Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)
- Republic of Uganda
- Republic of South Sudan
The restriction is effective for new entry and visit visas and will be extended as long as necessary.
How Long Will the Suspension Remain in Place?
The suspension, pursuant to the official notification, will remain suspended till further notice and can be prolonged based on the further evaluation of health and the further developments in the region.
Authorities will keep their eyes open and work closely with international health organizations and will only decide to reopen visa processing for affected countries once the situation stabilizes.
Understanding the 21-Day Travel Rule
One of the key changes in the new policy is the implementation of the 21-day travel rule. The UAE may allow travelers to enter with passports from affected countries or passports that were issued for more than 21 consecutive days prior to entering the UAE if the travelers have been in a third country for more than 21 consecutive days.
This provision enables eligible travelers to travel as usual with continued implementation of UAE’s preventive health screening system.
Transit Passengers Are Not Affected
The new rules are applicable only for passengers coming to the UAE. International flights are still running to and from major airports like DXB, Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH) etc.
If passengers connect to another international destination without entering the UAE, they will not be affected by the temporary visa suspension.
Cargo Flights Continue Without Disruption
Themes such as regional trade and supply chains are being taken care of with cargo aviation services being fully operational between UAE and affected countries.
Under the exemption, essential goods, medical supplies and commercial shipments are allowed to continue without restriction and restrictions on visas will continue.
What Travelers Should Do?
People intending to travel to the UAE from countries listed above are advised to closely monitor their travel history as well as visa status prior to arranging trips. Persons that have been in another third country for more than 72 hours should continue to possess the supporting travel documentation on hand.
It is also advised that travellers stay updated with the official Government’s announcement regarding any changes or extension of the current policy.
Why the UAE Introduced This Measure?
The UAE continues its proactive public health measures by placing a temporary ban on one disease as part of the strengthening measures for disease monitoring and preparedness along the UAE’s borders. Precautionary measures have been taken around the world during previous times when there has been an increased health risk threat to residents, visitors and necessary services.
The policy applies to visas for people who are entering or visiting the country for the first time, but authorities have made sure that international trading and transport activities will not be affected by this, and continue uninterrupted.
FAQs
Which country does UAE’s vacation visa apply to?
Currently, the suspension is in effect for Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Republic of Uganda and Republic of South Sudan.
When was the new visa suspension to begin?
The emergency measure took effect on Saturday, June 6, 2026 at 1:00 PM.
For how long will it be in effect?
It is active for the time being, and could be extended if the UAE authorities and health partners around the world do new health risk analysis.
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