By Wamala Sipirian
Published: September 30, 2026
The United Arab Emirates has eased entry restrictions imposed on Ugandan nationals in June 2026 over concerns related to an Ebola outbreak in Uganda.
The UAE’s National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority announced the decision on Saturday, saying it was made in coordination with the country’s Ministry of Health and the federal authority responsible for immigration and border security.
The agencies said they were easing the “precautionary entry measures introduced in June 2026 for nationals of the Republic of Uganda.”
According to the UAE authorities, the decision followed continued assessment of Uganda’s epidemiological situation and the completion of the internationally established monitoring period after the country’s Ebola outbreak ended.
The announcement came shortly after Uganda’s Foreign Minister Adonia Ayebare said his UAE counterpart, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, had informed him that the restrictions would be lifted.
Ayebare also said a UAE delegation would visit the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority and other relevant agencies within seven days to assess their preparedness.
The UAE announcement did not specify which individual entry requirements had been changed or when the eased measures would take effect. It also did not state whether the planned assessment by the UAE delegation remains a condition of the decision.
Travelers from Uganda have therefore been advised to confirm the applicable visa, entry and airline boarding requirements before departure.
Restrictions remain for DRC and South Sudan
While easing the measures affecting Ugandan nationals, UAE authorities said Ebola-related entry precautions for travelers from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and South Sudan would remain in effect.
The authorities attributed the continued measures to the “ongoing epidemiological situation” in those countries.
They said they would continue monitoring developments and adjust precautionary measures as risk assessments change.
Impact on Uganda-UAE travel
The restrictions had affected travel between Uganda and the UAE, which has a substantial Ugandan community and serves as an important aviation hub for travelers connecting to other destinations.
Uganda’s Embassy in Abu Dhabi estimated in March 2025 that about 160,000 Ugandans were living in the UAE.
Emirates said it had carried 2.8 million passengers on its Dubai-Entebbe route between 2000 and October 2025, including passengers connecting through Dubai to other destinations.
Ugandan officials had raised concerns about the impact of the restrictions on trade and travel, particularly after the World Health Organization declared Uganda Ebola-free in August.
The easing of the measures removes the Ebola-related entry restrictions specifically imposed on Ugandan nationals, although travelers remain subject to the UAE’s applicable immigration, visa and airline requirements.