The UAE Guides

UAE Suspends New Visas for DRC, Uganda and South Sudan Over Ebola

· 3 min read News
Dubai skyline with Burj Khalifa and waterfront

Contents

  1. Impact on Travelers
  2. Related Reading

The UAE’s National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority suspended all newly issued visas for nationals of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Uganda and South Sudan effective 13:00 local time on 6 June 2026. The measure was announced in response to an expanding Ebola outbreak in the affected region involving the Bundibugyo strain of the virus — a rare variant for which no licensed vaccine is currently available, and which prompted the World Health Organisation to declare a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.

The suspension covers tourist visas, visit visas and all other new visa categories for nationals of the three countries. Travellers arriving from the affected countries — including those who have transited through third countries — will not be permitted entry unless they can demonstrate they have remained outside DRC, Uganda and South Sudan continuously for more than 21 days before arriving in the UAE.

Importantly, transit operations through UAE airports remain operational and cargo flights are unaffected. Travellers who are neither nationals of nor recent visitors to the three countries are not affected by the restriction and can enter Dubai and the wider UAE normally, subject to standard UAE visa requirements.

For the vast majority of visitors to the UAE — European, American, Asian and most African nationals — there is no change to entry conditions. Those who do hold citizenship of the affected countries and have planned travel to the UAE should contact the UAE embassy in their home country or their travel insurer for up-to-date guidance, as the duration of the suspension will be reviewed in line with the WHO’s assessment of the outbreak.

June and July 2026 are unusually busy periods at UAE airports, with the FIFA World Cup running from 11 June to 19 July generating elevated passenger volumes across flights to Dubai. Travellers transiting through Dubai, Abu Dhabi or Sharjah during this period are advised to allow extra time at check-in and immigration. First-time visitors can read our full UAE first-time guide for entry and arrival tips.

Impact on Travelers

For the overwhelming majority of visitors to the UAE, this suspension has no practical effect. The three affected countries — DRC, Uganda, and South Sudan — collectively account for a very small share of UAE inbound tourism. If your passport was issued by any other country, and you have not visited DRC, Uganda, or South Sudan in the 21 days before your UAE arrival, entry conditions are unchanged.

For travellers who are nationals of the affected countries, the situation is more complex. The UAE embassy route is the correct first step: many embassies have updated their online guidance with emergency contact numbers for consular assistance. Travel insurers should be notified of any planned trip changes, as cancellation due to visa suspension is typically covered under standard policies as a “change in government advice” clause — check the specific wording of your policy.

The Bundibugyo Ebola strain at the centre of this restriction is distinct from the more commonly reported Zaire strain (which has a licensed vaccine) and the Sudan strain (which was addressed during the 2022 outbreak). The WHO’s Public Health Emergency of International Concern declaration gives the UAE’s response both legal and procedural grounding. The suspension is expected to remain in place for a minimum of 21 days from initial declaration, with reviews tied to WHO outbreak assessments.

Travellers flying routes that connect through Entebbe, Kinshasa, or Juba and then continue to the UAE — regardless of passport — should expect additional health screening questions at UAE immigration. Allow extra time for border processing on arrival at Dubai Airport or Abu Dhabi Airport.