Why UAE barred stranded Nigerians from entering Dubai
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has given reasons why immigration in the United Arab Emirates barred some Nigerians from entering Dubai.
A video has gone viral on social media, where some Nigerians alleged they were stopped from entering Dubai.
In a statement by spokesperson, Francisca K. Omayuli on Thursday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the affected Nigerians entered the Arab country with a wrong visa type.
According to her, after being issued a family visa, they entered the country without any family member, which necessitated their being sent back to Nigeria.
“The attention of the Federal Government of Nigeria has been drawn to a video on the social media, showing purportedly stranded Nigerians, who arrived the Airport in Dubai, UAE on 29th August, 2022, but were denied entry into the country, despite having valid visas.
“The Nigerian Mission in Dubai has clarified that most of the supposedly stranded Nigerians were issued with family visas, only to arrive Dubai alone without any family member. Consequently, they were denied entry and advised to return to their country and apply for the appropriate visas. However, those persons allowed entry into the country have their family members in the UAE. While those who claimed their family members were on another flight, were told to wait at the airport, pending their arrival.
“The general public is invited to note and be guided that the Government of the UAE
has introduced a new visa regime and has stopped issuing tourist visas to persons
under the age of 40 years, except for those applying for family visas.
“It is therefore, instructive for prospective visa applicants to indicate clearly their visa preferences without any ambiguity and also respect the immigration laws of other countries so as to avoid unwarranted treatments,” the statement read.
