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Ugandans can apply for Dubai visas again, but only in advance: Uganda is on the UAE's visa required list. New visas were suspended from over Ebola, and the measure was lifted for Uganda in late September. A tourist visa costs AED 210 in GDRFA fees for 30 days. Employment visas come only through a UAE employer.
The Ebola suspension, in dates
| Date | What was reported | Reported by |
|---|---|---|
| All new visas, visit visas included, suspended for nationals of Uganda, DR Congo and South Sudan | Gulf News, reporting NCEMA and ICP | |
| Measures eased for Uganda after its outbreak ended; DR Congo and South Sudan stay restricted | Khaleej Times, reporting NCEMA |
Neither step was published on a GDRFA or ICP service page, so both come from major UAE media quoting the authorities. The crisis authority said it keeps the measures under review. If your flight routes through DR Congo or South Sudan, ask the airline too.
Older reports
In some media claimed a wider UAE ban on several nationalities, Uganda among them. Uganda's foreign affairs minister told The EastAfrican there was no total ban but there were restrictions. The UAE ambassador to Uganda said what was circulating was false. Nothing official was issued either way.
Employment visa for Ugandans in the UAE
This is what most Ugandans search for, and it is where most money gets lost. An employment visa is not a product an agent sells. It works like this:
- A licensed UAE employer offers you a job and applies for your work permit.
- The employer gets an entry permit for employment, sent to you.
- You arrive, do the medical test and give biometrics for the Emirates ID.
- The employer stamps your residence. Only then are you legally employed.
If you are already in the UAE on a visit visa and an employer hires you, the visa can be switched inside the country. GDRFA charges AED 500 plus AED 10 and AED 10 for the status amendment. Our page on changing visa status in the UAE has the details.
Two warnings. Working on a visit visa is not allowed, and a worker who leaves an employer without cancelling can face an absconding report; see absconding cases. And anyone asking for large fees in Kampala for a "Dubai work visa" should be able to name the UAE employer filing it.
Visit visa fees
| You are visiting | Government fee | Extra |
|---|---|---|
| As a tourist, 30 days | AED 210 | None at GDRFA |
| As a tourist, 60 days | AED 315 | None at GDRFA |
| A relative, through ICP | AED 100 application, AED 100 a month, AED 100 smart services | Guarantee AED 1,000, refundable |
| A relative, through GDRFA | AED 200 for 30 days, plus 5% VAT | Deposit AED 1,000, insurance AED 40 |
Source: GDRFA and ICP service pages, checked .
What Dubai agencies charge
Dubai visa agencies publish about AED 340 to AED 800 for a 30-day single entry visa (published prices of 8 Dubai agencies, checked ).
Documents for a Ugandan visit visa
- Uganda passport, valid 6 months beyond arrival
- Colour bio page scan with nothing cut off
- Photo on a white background
- Return flight booking
- Health insurance accepted in the UAE
- Sponsor papers if a relative hosts you: residence, Emirates ID, salary and proof of the family link
Processing time
GDRFA lists 48 hours for a complete tourist visa and ICP lists 2 days for a visit visa. Because the Ebola measure was only lifted recently, allow extra days and do not book a flight you cannot change until the e-visa is in your inbox.
Common reasons for refusal
- Filing in a category the sponsor has not confirmed is open for Ugandan passports
- A passport too close to expiry
- Sponsor income under the ICP tier for that relationship
- A past overstay or absconding record in the UAE
- Overstaying this time, at AED 50 a day, which hurts the next application
Uganda's missions in the UAE
The Embassy of the Republic of Uganda is in Abu Dhabi, and the Consulate General of the Republic of Uganda is in Dubai. The embassy posts its own notices for Ugandans in the UAE.
How it works with us
Send your passport page and travel dates on WhatsApp or with the form on this page. A visa adviser first checks that the category you need is being accepted for Ugandan passports, then explains the options and gives you one total price. You only pay after agreeing to it. The team prepares and files the visit visa request with GDRFA or ICP, follows it up, and emails you the e-visa when it is issued. DubaiVisaDesk.com is a private service, not a UAE authority, and the authorities decide every file. We do not sell employment visas; those come from your employer.
A refused visa does not get its government fees back from the authorities. Your adviser puts in writing, before you pay, what part of the total, if any, is returned after a refusal.
Official sources
- MOFA visa exemptions page: Uganda listed as visa required
- GDRFA tourist visa: fees and conditions
- GDRFA status amendment: fee to switch visas inside the UAE
- Embassy of Uganda, Abu Dhabi: missions and notices
Neighbours: Kenya, Tanzania. All passports: Dubai visa by nationality.
