UAE Temporarily Suspends Visas for Citizens of Nine Countries

According to the reports, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has suspended the issuance of tourist and work visas for nationals from nine countries—those that include Afghanistan, Libya, Yemen, Somalia, Lebanon, Cameroon, Sudan, Uganda, and Bangladesh. The decision, which is going to be effective from October 29, 2025, has been applied to both the short-term visit visa and long-term work visa categories.

What’s Happening

The media in the region are claiming that the prevention is a temporary measure to allow the UAE to scrutinize the changes in immigration patterns and to introduce stronger internal security measures. Even though the visa applications from the countries mentioned above are currently put on hold, holders of valid UAE visas will not be affected by this decision and can keep residing, working, or traveling in the country under their existing status.

No official public statement has been made by the UAE’s Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation regarding the length of the suspension. Nevertheless, the action is in line with the UAE’s strategy of adopting strict border policies, controlling the inflow of workers, and making sure of the new entry regulation.

Why This Matters

For a long time, professionals and workers from the Asian and African continents have preferred the UAE as their prime destination. The temporary ban on visa issuance to the nine countries signals the priority given by the UAE to security checks, background screening, and immigration compliance.

The birthright of the prospective candidates from the regions that are affected will be the hold on new admissions until the next notice. It is expected that employers and recruiting firms in the UAE will revise their hiring plans according to the situation.

The Abhinav Perspective

At Abhinav Immigration Services, we are always on the lookout for the latest trends in immigration policy in the major global destinations like the Gulf region. Visa suspensions such as this one accentuate the extreme dynamism and sensitivity of immigration regulations – locked into a constant change, sometimes overnight, due to security or policy reviews.

Our advice to the professionals, employers, and recruitment partners is to stay abreast of the developments and have the required documentation in place for the time being till the UAE removes this temporary restriction or revises the eligibility criteria.

Abhinav Immigration Services – your partner in being informed, compliant, and equipped for global opportunities.