Ebola: UAE lifts travel restrictions on Ugandan nationals

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has lifted travel and entry restrictions imposed on Ugandan nationals following the Ebola outbreak in Uganda.

The decision was announced by the UAE’s National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority (NCEMA), in coordination with the ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) and the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP).

Multiple UAE publications confirmed the development, saying the decision followed continued assessment of the epidemiological situation and Uganda’s completion of the internationally established monitoring period following the end of its Ebola outbreak.

However, precautionary measures against the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and South Sudan remain in place because of the ongoing epidemiological situation in those countries.

The UAE introduced the restrictions on June 6, 2026, suspending the issuance of new visas to nationals of Uganda, DRC and South Sudan as part of measures to strengthen preparedness against Ebola.

Uganda’s Foreign Affairs Minister Adonia Ayebare said the decision followed recent discussions with his UAE counterpart, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, on the margins of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

“His Highness informed me of the decision to lift travel restrictions on Uganda, subject to a delegation of UAE visiting the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority and other entities to assess preparedness,” Ayebare said.

The UAE authorities said they would continue monitoring regional and international developments relating to Ebola, adding that precautionary measures would be reviewed and adjusted in line with changing risk assessments and public health standards.

Labour market impact

The easing of the restrictions is significant for Uganda’s labour export industry, which relies heavily on the UAE market.

The UAE is a major destination for Ugandan migrant workers employed in domestic work, hospitality, private security, construction, retail and business services.

The Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development estimates that between 100,000 and 160,000 Ugandans live and work in the UAE, mainly in Dubai, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi.

The workers are estimated to send between $260 million and $350 million in direct remittances to Uganda each year, equivalent to about Shs1 trillion to Shs1.3 trillion.

The June restrictions had also affected licensed external labour recruitment agencies in Uganda, which reported slowdowns as prospective workers waited for visa processing and travel arrangements to resume.

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