Did UAE Suspend Tourist, Work Visas For Bangladesh? Envoy Responds

UAE has not imposed any visa restrictions on Bangladeshi citizens, confirms senior Bangladesh official

No official confirmation has been issued by the UAE government regarding any visa ban.

The United Arab Emirates has not implemented any visa restrictions against Bangladeshi nationals, according to Tareq Ahmed, Bangladesh's Ambassador to the UAE. This statement comes in response to circulating social media reports which the ambassador dismissed as false information, as reported by Khaleej Times. Ahmed clarified that UAE authorities have not issued any official directive concerning restrictions on tourist or work visas for Bangladeshi citizens.

Various online platforms had circulated claims that the UAE had suspended visa issuance for citizens of certain countries, including Bangladesh. However, these reports lacked any verification from official UAE government sources, according to the news outlet.

In his conversation with the Bangladeshi publication Business Standard, Ambassador Tareq Ahmed emphasized that "so far, neither our embassy nor the consulate has received any information from the UAE government regarding such a ban."

Md Rashedujjaman, who serves as the Consul-General of Bangladesh in Dubai and Northern Emirates, estimated that approximately one million Bangladeshis currently reside in the UAE. According to Global Media Insight, the Bangladeshi community numbers around 0.84 million, making them the third-largest expatriate population in the country, following Indians and Pakistanis.

During a recent interview with Khaleej Times, Rashedujjaman mentioned that discussions are ongoing with UAE authorities to streamline visa procedures for Bangladeshi nationals, expressing optimism about their increased participation in the UAE's economic development.

What Were the Unverified Claims About the UAE Visa Ban?

The unconfirmed reports circulating on social media suggest that the UAE has temporarily halted new visa applications from nine countries, including Bangladesh, Libya, Yemen, Somalia, Lebanon, Cameroon, Sudan, and Uganda. According to these claims, starting in 2026, citizens from these countries would be unable to apply for tourist visas and work permits, with no timeline provided for when this policy might be reviewed or altered. However, it must be emphasized that there is no official confirmation of these reports from UAE authorities.