UAE Tightens Rules for Nigerian Travelers: Tourists Aged 18–45 Need Accompaniment, Transit Visas Suspended

The United Arab Emirates has once again revised visa restrictions on Nigerian travelers, imposing fresh limits that could severely curb tourism and business travel. Travel agents were briefed on Tuesday, July 9, 2025, that solo applicants aged 18 to 45 can no longer secure tourist visas unless accompanied by someone older or with a companion, while transit visas have been suspended entirely for Nigerians.

According to directives from Dubai’s immigration authorities, any Nigerian between 18 and 45 years old applying for a tourist visa must now be accompanied. Travelers aged 45 and above must provide a bank statement showing a minimum closing balance of USD 10,000 (or equivalent) over the past six months to be eligible.

The new rules were introduced just one year after the UAE lifted its 21‑month visa ban on Nigerians, a diplomatic breakthrough that restored travel links following a protracted row from 2022 to 2024. Despite that improvement, stricter conditions have remained in place, reflecting persistent concerns over misuse of entry privileges.

Reacting to the announcement, travel agents described the new requirements as “getting worse.” The president of the National Association of Nigerian Travel Agencies (NANTA) attributed the clampdown to repeated abuses of previous lenient visa policies, which allegedly tarnished Nigeria’s national image.

These visa changes arrive amid ongoing negotiations between Abuja and Abu Dhabi. In March 2025, Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs Ministry and the UAE Ambassador met to review visa procurement concerns, highlighting continued diplomatic efforts to ease travel restrictions.

The suspension of transit visas will also hit connecting travelers, while the mandatory financial proof and accompaniment rules could deter Nigerians from visiting for tourism, business, or medical needs. Whether these requirements will ease or remain long-term depends on diplomatic and security reviews.