ABU DHABI: The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has apparently banned citizens of nine African and Asian nations from applying for work and tourist permits.
The ban includes Uganda, Sudan, Somalia, Cameroon, Libya, Afghanistan, Yemen, Lebanon, and Bangladesh.
Applications from the countries have been suspended pending notice, and no new work or tourist visas are being issued, immigration circular says.
Although UAE authorities have not made the reason public, reports indicate potential connections to security issues, and diplomatic relations.
The UAE has enacted comparable measures in the past, such as temporary applicant bans of Nigerian nationals, although official confirmation of such policies has usually been scarce.
