The Kenyan Embassy in Abu Dhabi has alerted Kenyan citizens in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) after authorities announced a 30-day visa grace period for those impacted by recent regional flight disruptions.
In a statement released on Saturday, June 20, the embassy said the UAE government introduced the temporary measure to enable eligible people to regularise their residence status or depart without facing overstay fines.
The grace period will apply until July 9, 2026.
The embassy said the UAE government had announced the 30-day visa grace period for eligible individuals affected by the recent regional flight disruptions.
It also encouraged eligible Kenyans to ensure they remain in the country lawfully or make arrangements to leave before the deadline.
Kenyans affected by the disruptions have been advised to promptly confirm their visa status and complete any renewal, status change or departure requirements as soon as possible, and no later than July 9.
The advisory follows travel disruptions reported across parts of the Middle East in recent weeks, which disrupted flight schedules and prevented some travelers from completing their journeys as planned.
The new announcement is another major immigration-related directive from the UAE affecting Kenyan citizens and travelers.
In 2022, the UAE announced plans to extend tourist visas for Kenyans from one month to six months, a move intended to strengthen trade, business travel and economic cooperation between the two countries.
The UAE Ministry of Foreign Trade said then that the decision was meant to encourage more Kenyan entrepreneurs and businesspeople to explore opportunities in the Gulf nation.
The visa relief also comes as ties between Nairobi and Abu Dhabi continue to grow across several areas, including trade, investment and security cooperation.
Days earlier, senior officials from Kenya’s Treasury and the State Department for Defence met a delegation from Abu Dhabi to discuss possible collaboration under the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) Modernisation Programme.