Uganda: UAE Lifts Visa Restrictions On Ugandans, Puts 21 Day Window

Travelers bound for the United Arab Emirates from Uganda face a mandatory 21-day waiting period outside their home country following a partial rollback of Ebola-related restrictions.

Visa Suspensions Lifted With a 21-Day Condition

The United Arab Emirates lifted its suspension on new visas for Ugandan nationals, easing public health curbs originally put in place in June 2026. Under the revised framework, travelers must spend at least 21 days outside Uganda before entering the Emirates.

The announcement came from the UAE’s National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority, alongside the Ministry of Health and Prevention and the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security. The updated rules follow Uganda’s formal containment of the Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak, which was declared over on July 28, 2026, after health officials completed the required monitoring period.

“Throughout ⁠this period, the Ministry of Health maintained intensive surveillance nationwide , and ⁠no new Ebola cases have been detected,” Health ⁠Minister Chris Baryomunsi said.

Prior to the restrictions, an estimated 4,400 to 4,500 Ugandans traveled to the UAE each year for employment, while the wider Ugandan diaspora population in the country numbered between 150,000 and 160,000 individuals.

Exemptions for Students, Diplomats, and Medical Cases

The relaxation provides immediate relief for specific categories of travelers. Ugandan students enrolled in UAE educational institutions before June 2026 are permitted to return alongside their family members, subject to approved health procedures.

Administrative staff at the Ugandan Embassy holding ordinary passports, as well as diplomats traveling on special or diplomatic passports, also gain entry under adjusted health rules. Humanitarian and medical cases receive individual assessments.

Individuals travelling to the UAE for medical treatment will be required to submit approved medical reports specifying their diagnosis, the name of the healthcare facility where they will receive treatment, and the scheduled date for commencing treatment, based on the circumstances of each case.

The National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority, Ministry of Health and Prevention, and Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security, via The National

Airport Health Declarations and Fast-Track Lanes

In connection with regional health protocols, the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority instituted a travel advisory requiring both arriving and departing passengers at Entebbe International Airport to complete a Digital Health Declaration Form prior to undergoing Port Health and Immigration clearances. Travelers must utilize the official online portal to enter passport details, with the completed document remaining valid for a 48-hour window.

Uae lifted ebola related suspension visas ugandan nationals allowing entry days maintaining p — Photo: Travels Dubai

To expedite processing at Entebbe International Airport, authorities established four designated lanes for travelers: two marked for passengers who arrive with pre-filled digital forms, and two set aside for individuals requiring assistance from Port Health personnel to finalize their declarations.

Bilateral Ties and Continuing Restrictions for Neighboring Nations

Uganda’s Foreign Affairs Minister Amb. Adonia Ayebare welcomed the policy shift and acknowledged diplomatic efforts behind the decision, expressing appreciation for the role played by the UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs in Charge of Africa.

Uganda: UAE Lifts Visa Restrictions On Ugandans, Puts 21 Day Window — Photo: Business Insider Africa

This is to thank the Friendly Government of United Arab Emirates for lifting Ebola related travel restrictions. I thank my Brother and Friend Sheikh Shakhboot Bin Nahyan Al Nahyan the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs in Charge of Africa for his leadership and assistance.

Amb. Adonia Ayebare, Uganda’s Foreign Affairs Minister, via ChimpReports

Trade ties between the two nations are substantial. Uganda’s Ambassador to the UAE, Zaake Wanume Kibedi, said that bilateral trade reached approximately $4.7 billion in 2025, climbing from $600 million in 2018.

While restrictions ease for Uganda, the UAE maintains its entry suspensions for travelers from the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan, citing ongoing epidemiological monitoring in those regions, where health authorities reported 11,042 confirmed Ebola cases and 5,387 deaths.