The Federal Government has reached an agreement with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to allow Nigerian passport holders to obtain visas for travel to the Arab nation starting today, July 15, 2024.
This development was announced by the Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris, during a briefing with State House correspondents following the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting.
“Following successful talks and extensive, mutually beneficial negotiations between the Government of the United Arab Emirates and the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, an agreement was reached allowing for the resumption of travel to the UAE for Nigerian passport holders,” Idris stated.
He further elaborated that the agreement includes updated controls and conditions to facilitate obtaining a UAE visa. “The resumption of visas will be effective from July 15, 2024,” he added.
The minister also mentioned that Nigerians seeking more information about the updated visa conditions can visit the UAE’s official website.
UAE Lifts Visa Suspension After Two-Year Diplomatic Dispute
This announcement comes more than two years after the UAE suspended visa issuance to Nigerians amid a prolonged diplomatic dispute.
It also follows the UAE national carrier Emirates Airlines’ announcement of the resumption of flights to Nigeria, with daily Lagos-Dubai flights set to restart on October 1, 2024.
Emirates Airlines had previously suspended its Dubai-Lagos flights in 2022 due to difficulties in repatriating trapped funds in Nigeria during the diplomatic tensions between the two countries.
Nigeria and the UAE have a history of flight restrictions and unresolved issues surrounding the Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA), which have contributed to the diplomatic rift.
Visa restrictions emerged as part of these diplomatic challenges, affecting Nigerian migrants and tourists who view the UAE as a top destination.
In September 2023, President Bola Tinubu met with UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi to address and resolve the diplomatic issues between the two nations.
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