Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have agreed to meet in the coming days to resolve visa-related issues faced by Nigerians traveling to the Gulf nation.

This decision was made during a courtesy visit by UAE Ambassador to Nigeria, Salem Saeed Alshamsi, to the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, at the Tafawa Balewa House in Abuja.

Odumegwu-Ojukwu highlighted Nigeria’s strong diplomatic and economic ties with the UAE, noting that Dubai remains a prime destination for Nigerians. She revealed that Nigerians spent over $1 billion on shopping and related activities in 2015 alone, with visa expenditures ranging between $100 million and $150 million. Despite this, visa procurement has remained a challenge, prompting calls for clarity on UAE’s visa policies.

The minister also proposed hosting a joint commission in Nigeria to advance bilateral discussions on trade, energy, and other areas of mutual interest. She acknowledged the UAE’s recent donations of relief materials for flood victims and vaccines for chickenpox patients in Nigeria.

In response, Ambassador Alshamsi reaffirmed the UAE’s commitment to strengthening ties and resolving visa challenges. He disclosed that since assuming office, he has facilitated visa issuance for Nigerian government officials and private applicants through an appointed agent.

“We have issued over 700 tourism visas since July 2024, and I ensure zero visa rejections,” Alshamsi stated. He assured that discussions will be held to streamline visa processing and finalize pending agreements ahead of the UAE President’s planned visit to Nigeria in the second quarter of the year.

Both nations remain optimistic that the upcoming talks will foster improved trade, investment, and diplomatic relations.