Particle.news
Download on the App Store

Reports Say UAE Pauses New Tourist and Work Visas for Nine Countries

The move is attributed to a leaked immigration circular with no official confirmation on scope or duration.

Overview

  • Multiple outlets cite a Times of India report on an internal circular indicating a temporary halt to new tourist and work visa applications for certain nationalities.
  • Most reports list Afghanistan, Libya, Yemen, Somalia, Lebanon, Bangladesh, Cameroon, Sudan and Uganda as the affected countries.
  • The UAE has not issued a public statement confirming the measure or setting a review date, with coverage framing it as part of a broader 2026 visa-policy overhaul.
  • People holding valid UAE visas are reported as unaffected, while new applications from the listed countries are not being processed.
  • Staffing agencies, employers and travel providers report immediate disruptions and await guidance, and differing country lists in some reports have added confusion about the policy’s exact scope.