Foreign Ministry denies rumors of Uzbek entry ban to Dubai

Social media has been buzzing with claims that Uzbekistan citizens are banned from entering the UAE. However, the spokesperson for Uzbekistan’s Foreign Ministry, Ahror Burhonov, dismissed these allegations as false and baseless.

"The existing visa-free agreement between Uzbekistan and the UAE remains in effect. No official source has reported any such restrictions," Burhonov stated, urging citizens to rely only on verified and official information.

Concerns arose after multiple legal cases involving Uzbek nationals in Dubai. In November 2024, a UAE court sentenced three Uzbek citizens to death over the murder of Jewish rabbi Svi Kogan. Uzbekistan’s Foreign Ministry later confirmed the verdict.

In April 2025, another incident occurred in Dubai, where a violent altercation among Uzbek citizens led to one fatality. Following the incident, 15 Uzbek nationals were arrested. Discussions surfaced regarding whether the rise in legal violations could impact the visa-free regime between Uzbekistan and the UAE.

Soon after, Saudi Arabia suspended electronic visa issuance for Uzbek citizens, raising further questions about travel restrictions for Uzbeks in the region.