In a recent announcement, the government of the United Arab Emirates has set its application fees for Nigerians at N640,000.

This decision came after the two nations resolved a three-year dispute between the United Arab Emirates and Nigeria.

On Monday, July 15, 2024, the Information Minister, Mohammed Idris announced that the UAE and Nigeria have reached an agreement to resume travel for citizens starting July 15.

However, there are specific conditions attached to obtaining a UAE visa.

To obtain a Document Verification Number (DVN), a non-refundable fee of N640,000 (excluding VAT) must be paid by credit card at the UAE visa centre in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital city.

For Nigerians residing abroad, the visa fee can be paid at the nearest UAE visa centre.

The DV hub stated, “Your issued Document Verification Number will be valid for 14 days from issuance, or once your visa application has been processed by the visa application department (whichever comes first).”

It was mentioned that applicants should expect to receive their DVN within five business days once payment has been successfully processed.

Nigerians are also required to provide proof of a six-month bank statement with a minimum balance of $10,000.

Applicants must show round-trip flight tickets and proof of hotel booking.

These new conditions have sparked significant reactions from Nigerians on social media.

Here are some reactions.

@Chimacoeche: If not corruption, why will Nigerians go to Dubai when they have the same type of mineral resources?

The Nigerian government is doing this to ensure that the youths of this country rot here.

@Bidal4Life: Imagine all this requirements just to become a second citizen in a Middle East country
I no blame una sha na me come from Country wey Dey GBA

@MasterAdetoye: UAE has made her sacrifices, paid her dues and now they have the right to raise hands. This is a big slap on a country like Nigeria. Fix your gaddemn country and no country can trample on your ego. Oh that man is shameless for joyfully announcing this, like it's an achievement.

@emma_ocheme: Them no force anybody to go there.. if you can't meet the required dey your dey!

@Ibrahim_s_ahmad: Nobody with such balance would go there to constitute nuisance

R: “My unsolicited take on this UAE visa thing is that - you see that website? 100% FG trying to fleece Nigerians & UAE has nothing to do with it. UAE probably just made a simple request to FG "ensure applicants are vetted properly before they apply for our visa.”

Oseni Rufai: “So the UAE wants to collect 640k from Nigerians for Visa."