One of the world’s leading tourism destinations, Dubai has turned its eye to Kenya, Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and other African countries as a rich source for their tourists after placing a visa ban on Nigerian tourists.
The United Arab Emirates announced in October 2022 a visa ban on all citizens of Nigeria and other African countries.
“This is to inform you that we will not be posting 30 days visa applications for these nationalities effective today October 18, 2022, “part of the notice read.
It also informed all traveling agencies, and trade partners that, “Any applications from the above-mentioned countries will be sent back or canceled.”
The attention of Dubai’s tourism ministry and the UAE has now shifted to other African countries like Uganda, Angola, Kenya and South Africa as a result of the ban to provide them with the yearly number of tourists visiting the city.
Given this, the tourism ministry has employed the services of South African singer Thabsie as well as Kenyan celebrity Bahati as their new tourism ambassadors.
The two stars have been tasked to use their popularity to show Africans what Dubai has to offer through their own eyes and individual experiences.
Thabsie and Bahati, who are currently in Dubai with their plus ones will engage in a friendly campaign called the “A to Z of Dubai” where they will, letter by letter, convince their followers to visit Dubai.
Meanwhile, the former president of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari February 2023 called for the lifting of the blanket visa ban on Nigerians by the government of the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The leader expressed readiness to apply necessary sanctions through appropriate judicial processes against persons who commit criminal acts in the UAE while admitting that some Nigerians may be violating the laws of the country.