Nigeria’s Foreign Ministry Silent as UAE Blocks Visas, Demands Nigerians Show $60,000 Bank History for Entry
West Africa WeeklyJune 21, 20251 Mins read2.1k 
Thousands of Nigerians are reportedly being barred from securing transit or tourist visas to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) due to an unverified yet widely enforced requirement: maintaining a minimum monthly bank balance of $10,000 for six consecutive months, totalling $60,000. Yet, Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has remained unresponsive, offering no public clarification, guidance, or diplomatic intervention.
While UAE authorities have denied implementing such financial requirements, pointing instead to standard criteria such as a passport, a photo, travel insurance, and a return ticket, travel agents and visa processing intermediaries continue to demand them. Applicants are also being asked to pay a non-refundable processing fee of ₦640,000 (approx. $1,500), further compounding the burden.
These practices appear to be selectively applied. There is no indication that other West African nationals, including Ghanaians or Côte d’Ivoire, face the same restrictions, raising serious concerns that Nigerians are being deliberately singled out and financially profiled.
Many Nigerians have called it a “constructive travel ban,” effectively shutting out Nigerians under the guise of bureaucratic procedure. Despite growing public outrage, online outcry, and mounting pressure, Nigeria’s Foreign Ministry has not issued a statement, engaged UAE counterparts, or offered support to affected citizens.
This silence has drawn heavy criticism from citizens who view the Ministry’s inaction as a dereliction of duty. In a time when diplomatic representation is urgently needed, the absence of a strong response has left Nigerians vulnerable, frustrated, and excluded from legitimate international travel.
Without official intervention, many applicants are being turned away or driven into the hands of third-party agents and unofficial networks that charge even higher fees. The lack of transparency and protection has created a climate of uncertainty, making even routine travel inaccessible for average Nigerians.
As the situation continues, many argue that the Ministry must do more than remain a passive observer. It must act decisively to challenge these discriminatory barriers and advocate for equal treatment of Nigerian citizens abroad.
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Please is Dubai a heaven, wicked country they want to be enslaving africans in the Indian high tax payer companies, they are lazy let them expel all the foreigners and see what will happen to them, if our government is good who will opt to go to desert
Nigeria government suppose to terminate anything with UAE, they are lazy, wicked people, how can you say that someone must have $60.000 dollars before migrating to Dubai, desert for that matter, let God punish you people and sheikh Zayed who is your founder.
Wish all other countries will follow UAE policy so that we will all stay back and build our country .
Na sooooo
Any one above 40 years old can get Dubai visa just the price is high and likely the person migh need to go abuja for biometric.
Ajei
Does the Nigerian authorities not know that their failure to steer clear of Iran in their foreign policy leanings could court trouble from moderate Arab/muslim countries like UAE and Saudi Arabia?
The foreign affairs people in Nigeria seem ignorant about the real underpinnings of current global developments.
Is UAE a must travel to country? Why don’t Nigerians avoid a country that does not need them alone. Boycott that country, even Nigerians living there should find alternative countries to move to if they cannot come back home. I bet you if we ignore this hostile country for few months I can assure you we will regain our respect. Why should Nigeria Foreign ministry engage them to change the stiff conditions, we should retaliate by subjecting their nationals to the same visa conditions. Namibia didn’t go beginning USA to offer Namibian visa free to USA, they withdrew visa free visit to Americans too.
Is good UAE does that so aimless African folks will not go dere and become a nuisance like going dere 4 cultism and prostitution. When u arrive UAE with such bank balance you think Business or you enjoy quietly and go back. That’s what dey want if u cannot accept dere conditions stay home and hassle or go else where.You cannot tell a country how to manage how they conduct dere business.
Is good UAE does that so aimless African folks will not go dere and become a nuisance like going dere 4 cultism and prostitution. When u arrive UAE with such bank balance you think Business or you enjoy quietly and go back. That’s what dey want if u cannot accept dere conditions stay home and hussle or go else where.You cannot tell a country how to manage how they conduct dere business.
It is about time we ban all those countries that ban us. Must Nigerians traverse the whole world? We go there to spend our hard earned money apart from the few criminals and there are criminals everywhere in the world. Let us develop our own space . When Arab royalties and families were coming for treatments at UCH Ibadan,they can remember .
I think this countries are just cashing out on us Nigerians. I also feel the ministry of foreign affairs should come up with a POLICY such that if I pay for a VISA and I am not granted the VISA, I should get back my money or 50% of my money should be given back to me. Because, this people are just cashing out on Nigerians. Countries like UK, and others doing similar things.
But this isn’t their fault but bad Governance in Nigeria. If systems in Nigeria are working who will be clamoring to go to their country. Even some people who just want to go on vacation are being denied VISA after huge payment.
Foreign Affairs minister needs to do something about this. Money should be returned for VISA denials or 50% be returned.
You guys will not understand how this is hurting businesses in Nigeria, most global companies site their headquarters in Dubai and even run their subsidiary in Nigeria from Dubai and offer skilled employee training from these centers, and no visi means no training, and no business. It really hurts, I know so many employees in Nigeria suffering this visa ban. Now multinationals prefer to run thier business from Ghana and even higher employees from there to run business in Nigeria. Because Nigerians can’t travel genuinely under business visa to Dubai, South Africa, Germany or Europ or American and most African countries
The country can not measure up with other countries in development when your man power can not get access to modern training facilities.