UAE Has Not Halted Issuing Travel Visas to Nigerians
The Claim
The UAE has imposed a general visa ban on Nigerians.
News posted on
Emerging story
Social media users and news websites have been circulating news that UAE has imposed a general visa ban on Nigerians. Users alleged that a viral video showing Nigerians fighting and destroying public property was the reason for the ban. Others claimed that fighting broke out in Dubai between two rival Nigerian cults.
Yet another news website reported that in order to give Nigerians visas, the UAE requests a six-month bank statement and other documents.
Misbar’s Analysis
Misbar investigated the circulating claim and found it misleading.
Misbar's team was unable to find an official announcement by the UAE Embassy banning visas for Nigerians.
Dubai Police Arrests a Group of People
The claim sparked after a video of a group of men fighting and crashing cars went viral in Dubai went viral.
On July 22, 2022, UAE-based news outlets reported that seven men were arrested after appearing in a video fighting in public and damaging public property.
Dubai Police said in a social media statement that they arrested a group of people who were "in a heated argument in their residences at late hours."
However, the Dubai police did not mention that the men arrested were Nigerians.
UAE Denies Visa Ban for Nigerians
A UAE visa staff member reportedly told TVC, a significant Nigerian news outlet, that the visa portal application is down because it is being upgraded.
TVC also reported that the UAE visa section denied reports that the UAE had prevented Nigerians from applying for visas.
Contrary to the viral claims, Misbar was unable to locate any news regarding new procedures for Nigerians applying for UAE visas. We also investigated the UAE's official website and social media accounts, but there was no information on the topic circulating.
Emirates Plans to Reduce Lagos Flights
Reuters has obtained a letter sent to the government by Emirates, which reveals the airline's plans to reduce flights to Nigeria beginning on August 1, 2022, due to trapped revenue.
The letter revealed $85 million trapped in the country as of July, a figure that was rising by $10 million per month.
However, reducing the number of flights will not affect the UAE visa process for Nigerians.
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