UAE suspends visas for 3 Ebola-affected countries

The UAE has suspended the issuance of new visas for nationals of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Uganda and South Sudan as part of precautionary measures linked to the Ebola outbreak, a highly infectious viral disease, affecting parts of Central and East Africa.

The measures, introduced by the National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority (NCEMA) and the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP), also deny entry to travellers arriving from the three countries, including those transiting through one or more destinations.

Entry is only permitted for travellers who have spent more than 21 consecutive days outside the affected countries before arriving in the UAE. Cargo flights and transit operations remain unaffected. The restrictions took effect on 6 June 2026 and are subject to extension.

The authorities confirmed they will continue assessing developments with local and international partners and introduce additional measures if required under approved health and risk-management protocols.

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UAE airlines Emirates and Flydubai have also updated their travel advisories following the new measures. Emirates has advised passengers to verify entry requirements before departure, noting that entry and transit restrictions apply regardless of routing until further notice. Flydubai issued similar guidance on its travel advisory page, urging customers to review destination requirements and follow instructions issued by government and health authorities.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Uganda has reported 15 confirmed Ebola cases linked to the current outbreak. WHO has also warned that cross-border transmission remains a risk and continues to support surveillance, screening and contact-tracing efforts across affected countries.

Similar travel restrictions and enhanced screening measures have been implemented across hubs in the GCC and beyond. Bahrain recently suspended entry for travellers arriving from the DRC, Uganda and South Sudan, while countries including Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Canada have introduced additional health screening and monitoring requirements for passengers arriving from affected regions.

For more information, visit www.ncema.gov.ae