UAE Disowns Website, Clarifies Visa Application Fees

The United Arab Emirates has denied imposing a $10,000 bank balance requirement and a N640,000 fee for Nigerians applying for visas, as reported by The Cable.

Mohammed Idris, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, announced on Monday that the UAE authorities have agreed to lift travel restrictions on Nigerians.

Idris also mentioned that applicants must meet certain conditions, including obtaining a document verification number from documentverificationhub.ae.

According to this website, the verification process costs a non-refundable N640,000, excluding VAT, per application, which does not include the visa fee. Additionally, applicants were required to provide a six-month bank statement showing a minimum balance of $10,000.

This development sparked criticism from air travelers, who labeled the requirements as a “constructive ban.”#

However, The Cable’s inquiries to the UAE’s Department of Economy and Tourism revealed that the DV hub website is not affiliated with the UAE government. The department emphasized that document verification inquiries should be directed to Dubai’s General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFAD).

The GDRFAD clarified that the visa application process requires a personal photo and a passport with at least six months of validity. The cost of a tourist visa ranges from 200 to 300 dirhams (N60,000 – N90,000), depending on the length of stay.

Applicants also need a travel ticket and valid medical insurance for the UAE. When questioned about the $10,000 bank balance requirement, GDRFAD responded, “We are not aware of such requirements. Make your visa applications through the GDRFAD.”

Eche Abu-Obe, the spokesperson for Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, assured that further clarification would be sought from the ministry’s office in the Middle East.

It is noteworthy that the UAE had imposed a visa ban on Nigeria nearly two years ago due to various diplomatic disputes. Additionally, Dubai’s Emirates Airline halted flights to Nigeria because the Central Bank of Nigeria could not remit an estimated $85 million in revenue to the UAE. In June, following several meetings with the UAE government, the Federal Government assured Nigerians that the visa ban would soon be lifted. During the same month, the Nigerian government announced that it had paid 98 percent of $850 million.