Are Ugandans really banned from the UAE in 2026?

Uganda President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni meets UAE Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum

United Arab Emirates (UAE) envoy to Uganda Abdalla Hassan AlShamsi has debunked reports that made headlines that the UAE had added Uganda to a list of banned countries.

Reports circulated online starting on Wednesday suggesting that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) would impose a visa ban on Ugandan nationals starting in 2026, prohibiting tourist and work visas. This followed a BBC investigation into alleged sex exploitation involving Ugandan women in Dubai.

A screenshot of the New Vision article by Charles Etukuri, which debunked the UAE-Uganda visa ban news.

The core claim of an outright 2026 visa ban on Ugandans is false, as confirmed by official statements from the UAE Ambassador to Uganda and Ugandan government officials.

However, the report accurately highlights a 2022 temporary suspension of short-term visit visas due to overstays, and the BBC's September 2025 exposé on exploitation rings has heightened diplomatic tensions, potentially leading to stricter (but not banned) visa processing for high-risk applicants. This misinformation likely originated from unverified websites, amplifying fears among Ugandan migrants.

Denial of the Visa Ban:

UAE Ambassador Abdalla Hassan AlShamsi explicitly dismissed the ban rumors in a September 18, 2025, interview, stating, “What is circulating out there is false” and confirming no official UAE communication on new restrictions. Uganda's Ministry of Foreign Affairs Permanent Secretary Vincent Bagiire echoed this, noting the reports stem from unofficial sources like a non-government visa application site (e.g., applydubaivisa.com). State Minister Oryem Henry Okello clarified there is "no total ban," but added that UAE authorities may impose targeted restrictions on long-term visas for categories prone to overstays.

2022 Temporary Restrictions:

The UAE did suspend 30-day tourist visas for Ugandans and over 20 other nationalities in October 2022 to address visa overstays and unauthorized work, affecting thousands of applications. This was a short-term measure, later lifted, and aligns with ongoing concerns about ~10,000 Ugandan overstay cases reported in 2024.

Link to BBC Investigation:

"Death in Dubai: #DubaiPortaPotty" report (September 14, 2025) exposed a Ugandan-led sex trafficking ring in Dubai luring women with fake jobs, resulting in exploitation, debt bondage, and at least two suspicious deaths (Monic Karungi in 2022 and Kayla Birungi in 2021). This has sparked calls from Ugandan officials, including Minister Balaam Barugahara, for better migrant protections and potential Interpol involvement. While not directly causing a ban, it has fueled rumours and prompted UAE visa scrutiny.

Why This Matters:

A group of Ugandan women heading to the Middle East for work. Most Ugandans in Dubai work as housemaids, security guards or drivers.

Misinformation like this can deter legitimate travel, harm Uganda-UAE relations (with over 20,000 Ugandans working in the UAE), and exploit vulnerabilities exposed by the BBC report. Always verify visa updates via official channels like Uganda's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.