Uganda has granted citizens of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) visa-free entry for stays of up to 90 days, according to information published by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The arrangement covers all categories of UAE passports, including diplomatic, special, official and ordinary passports. This means eligible Emirati travellers can enter Uganda without first applying for a visa at a Ugandan embassy or consulate.
Who qualifies for Uganda’s visa-free entry?
The policy allows UAE nationals to stay in Uganda for up to 90 days for tourism, education, medical treatment or work.
The arrangement makes Uganda more accessible to Emirati travellers, as the visa exemption extends beyond tourism to include other purposes of travel.
Travellers who intend to remain in Uganda for more than three months must apply for a residence permit covering the additional period.
Uganda’s position in Africa’s visa policies
Uganda is among several African countries that have adjusted their entry requirements as they seek to attract visitors and investors from Gulf states.
The UAE, whose citizens and residents frequently travel internationally for business and leisure, represents a potential source of visitors to East African destinations.
Uganda is known for its biodiversity, including mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and the source of the Nile in Jinja. The country has also been working to expand its tourism industry.
Extending visa-free access to UAE passport holders for tourism, work, study and medical treatment points to efforts to strengthen relations between the two countries beyond tourism.