UAE has suspended visa issuance for nationals of three Ebola-affected countries

Nationals of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, and South Sudan have been affected by the suspension, which took effect at 1 pm on Jun 6, 2026

The UAE has suspended new visa issuance for nationals of three countries affected by Ebola: the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, and South Sudan. The measure took effect at 1 pm on Saturday, June 6, 2026, and could be extended depending on how the health situation develops, as reported by Khaleej Times.

The decision was announced on Friday, June 5, 2026, by the National Emergency Crisis and Disasters Management Authority (NCEMA) and the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Port Security (ICP) as part of additional precautionary measures aimed at strengthening the UAE's national preparedness against the Ebola virus.

Who has been affected

Entry to the UAE has been restricted for travelers arriving from the three listed countries, including those who have transited through other nations along the way. The only exception is for travelers who can demonstrate they have spent more than 21 days outside the affected countries before arriving in the UAE.

What has continued as normal

The authorities have confirmed that cargo flights between the UAE and the three countries have not been disrupted. Transit flights have also continued to operate without interruption.

Ongoing monitoring and preparedness

According to Khaleej Times, NCEMA and ICP have said they will continue to monitor Ebola-related developments in coordination with local and international partners. Both agencies have stated they will assess the virus's impact on additional countries and take further action as needed, guided by risk assessments and approved health standards.

The UAE's Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) has said the country continues to maintain precautionary readiness against Ebola, including surveillance systems, early-detection protocols, airport preparedness, and healthcare response capacity.

In an advisory issued on June 3, 2026, MoHAP confirmed that the public health situation in the UAE remains stable. The ministry noted that the current Ebola outbreak has been primarily concentrated in parts of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda.