UAE reopens visa applications for Ugandans after Ebola curbs
Ugandans may apply for UAE visas again, provided they have spent at least 21 days outside Uganda before travelling, the emirate's authorities announced on Wednesday.
Ugandans can apply for United Arab Emirates visas again. The UAE announced on Wednesday, November 11, that it has lifted the suspension it imposed in June 2026, when Ebola concerns led it to halt new visas for Ugandan nationals. Applicants must have spent at least 21 days outside Uganda before travelling to the Emirates.
The revised measures were announced by the National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority, working with the Ministry of Health and Prevention and the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security. Ugandan students who enrolled in UAE institutions before June 2026, along with their families, may return under approved health procedures, as may administrative staff at the Ugandan Embassy and their dependants.
Uganda declared the Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak over on July 28, 2026, after health authorities stopped local transmission, and the Ministry of Health says the country remains Ebola-free. Humanitarian and medical cases will still be assessed one by one, and patients travelling for treatment must supply a diagnosis, the name of the treating facility and a start date. Ebola continues to spread in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which had recorded 11,042 confirmed cases and 5,387 deaths by November 10.
Why it mattersUgandan students who enrolled in UAE institutions before June and their families can return, and medical travellers need approved reports before departure.