The UAE’s diplomatic network notched another mobility win this weekend as a bilateral visa-waiver with Uganda entered into force on 21 February. The agreement allows holders of diplomatic and service passports from both nations to enter each other’s territory visa-free for stays of up to 90 days within any 180-day period.(https://www.travelandtourworld.com/news/article/uganda-and-uae-launch-new-bilateral-visa-waiver-for-diplomatic-and-service-passport-holders-allowing-ninety-day-visa-free-stays-starting-february-2026/?utm_source=openai)
For Abu Dhabi, the waiver strengthens its outreach to East Africa, a region targeted for food-security partnerships and logistics investment via DP World and Etihad Cargo. Ugandan officials expect the exemption to streamline ministerial travel tied to upcoming UAE-funded solar and agritech projects, while Emirati delegations exploring agricultural land leases will gain quicker access to Kampala and Entebbe.
Although ordinary Ugandan passport holders still require advance visas, analysts see the move as a precursor to broader facilitation once Uganda finalises biometric-passport roll-outs that meet UAE security protocols. Meanwhile, UAE passport holders—ranked among the world’s strongest—gain another corridor for 90-day visa-free stays useful for scouting tourism and telecom investments around Lake Victoria.
![UAE and Uganda Activate 90-Day Visa-Free Travel for Diplomatic & Service Passports]()
If you fall outside the waiver—say, you hold an ordinary Ugandan passport or you’re an expatriate needing documentation for the UAE—VisaHQ can streamline the process. Through its UAE portal (https://www.visahq.com/united-arab-emirates/), the platform offers step-by-step online applications, document validation and real-time tracking, helping travellers and corporate mobility teams stay compliant as rules continue to evolve.
Companies moving expatriate executives between Dubai and Kampala should update global-mobility policies: staff travelling on service passports no longer need UAE residence-visa copies for short visits, but must carry official mission letters. Crew planners at Emirates SkyCargo, which operates freighters into Entebbe, note that visa-free entry could simplify last-minute crew swaps, reducing reliance on airport visas that cost US$50 per entrant.
Immigration advisers caution that the 90-day allowance is cumulative; overstays will still trigger AED 200 daily fines on entry back into the UAE. Both governments plan to evaluate extension to ordinary passports after a 12-month compliance review.
For Abu Dhabi, the waiver strengthens its outreach to East Africa, a region targeted for food-security partnerships and logistics investment via DP World and Etihad Cargo. Ugandan officials expect the exemption to streamline ministerial travel tied to upcoming UAE-funded solar and agritech projects, while Emirati delegations exploring agricultural land leases will gain quicker access to Kampala and Entebbe.
Although ordinary Ugandan passport holders still require advance visas, analysts see the move as a precursor to broader facilitation once Uganda finalises biometric-passport roll-outs that meet UAE security protocols. Meanwhile, UAE passport holders—ranked among the world’s strongest—gain another corridor for 90-day visa-free stays useful for scouting tourism and telecom investments around Lake Victoria.
If you fall outside the waiver—say, you hold an ordinary Ugandan passport or you’re an expatriate needing documentation for the UAE—VisaHQ can streamline the process. Through its UAE portal (https://www.visahq.com/united-arab-emirates/), the platform offers step-by-step online applications, document validation and real-time tracking, helping travellers and corporate mobility teams stay compliant as rules continue to evolve.
Companies moving expatriate executives between Dubai and Kampala should update global-mobility policies: staff travelling on service passports no longer need UAE residence-visa copies for short visits, but must carry official mission letters. Crew planners at Emirates SkyCargo, which operates freighters into Entebbe, note that visa-free entry could simplify last-minute crew swaps, reducing reliance on airport visas that cost US$50 per entrant.
Immigration advisers caution that the 90-day allowance is cumulative; overstays will still trigger AED 200 daily fines on entry back into the UAE. Both governments plan to evaluate extension to ordinary passports after a 12-month compliance review.
