UAE Bans Transit Visas, Imposes Stricter Dubai Tourist Visa Rules on Nigerians Aged 18–45

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has announced new visa restrictions targeting Nigerian citizens, including a complete suspension of transit visa applications and tightened tourist visa requirements for travelers aged 18 to 45. The new directive, communicated to travel agents on Tuesday, marks another hurdle for Nigerians seeking entry into Dubai, the UAE’s most popular destination for tourism and business.

Under the updated rules, Nigerians within the 18–45 age bracket will no longer be eligible for a Dubai tourist visa unless they are accompanied—effectively barring solo travelers in this age group. For applicants aged 45 and above, an additional condition has been introduced: they must present a six-month personal Nigerian bank statement, with each month’s balance not falling below $10,000 or its naira equivalent.

The UAE immigration directive reads: “For Nigeria nationals, please bear in mind that an applicant aged 18 to 45 years travelling alone is not eligible for TOURIST VISA CATEGORY.” It further emphasizes that the $10,000 monthly minimum applies exclusively to single applicants aged 45 or older, who must submit their own bank statements alongside standard documentation such as hotel bookings and passport data pages.

This development comes barely a year after the UAE lifted a two-year visa ban on Nigerian citizens, a move that was initially seen as a diplomatic breakthrough. However, even that resumption came with conditions that drastically reduced the volume of Nigerian visitors to the UAE.

With the latest revision, travel agents are warning of an even steeper decline in Dubai-bound traffic from Nigeria. The new rules are expected to have immediate consequences on Nigerian tourism, travel, and diaspora connectivity to the UAE.