The latest visa ban slammed on Nigeria by the United Arab Emirates has come into effect as the Middle Eastern country has begun rejecting valid visa holders and barring others from entering. 

Two travel agencies confirmed to Peoples Gazette that their clients with visas were banned, and new applications were rejected without refund. Six travellers told The Gazette that issued visas were immediately rescinded. 

Cyprian Ugwu, who was trying to fly from Poland to Dubai via Milan, told The Gazette that he was banned from travelling to the Arab country despite having a valid three months visa.

The ban was conveyed on Saturday in a notice issued to the country’s trade partners in Nigeria, including travel agents. 

“All Dubai applications submitted are now rejected. It is general for Nigerians, and approvals are on hold at the moment.“Kindly advise your clients to resubmit applications when the issue is resolved between both governments,” the notice said.

In September, Nigeria’s foreign ministry announced that Nigerians under the age of 40 will no longer be issued tourist visas to the United Arab Emirates as the Emirati “introduced a new visa regime and has stopped issuing tourist visas to persons under the age of 40 years, except for those applying for family visas.”

In early August, the United Arab Emirates began issuing visas to Nigerians after it imposed outright bans following cult clashes between rival cult groups Eiye and Aiye in Dubai and Sharjah.

Under the new requirements, Nigerians seeking travel access to the middle eastern city must include confirmed hotel reservations, a six-month bank statement showing cash inflows and outflows and a confirmed return ticket confirmation.

The visa ban comes as Dubai authorities sentenced Dinchi Lar, a female Nigerian citizen, to one year in prison for tweeting a video that exposed the horrendous treatment she and other Africans were forced to endure at the Dubai international airport.