Travel alert: UAE warns against trips to Ebola-hit African nations
Conflict zones and displacement camps complicate containment and response efforts
DUBAI – The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has advised UAE nationals and residents against travelling to the Republic of Uganda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Republic of South Sudan unless absolutely necessary.
The advisory comes in light of an evolving public health situation linked to Ebola virus disease (EVD), which continues to spread across parts of central and eastern Africa.
Authorities have urged citizens already in these countries to remain highly cautious and strictly follow local health instructions. The ministry also emphasised the importance of registering on the Twajudi service and maintaining contact with emergency support channels while abroad.
The guidance reflects broader international concern as health agencies monitor the trajectory of the outbreak across multiple borders and fragile regions.
Travel advisory
The UAE foreign ministry reiterated that safety and wellbeing of citizens remain a top priority, particularly in regions facing serious public health threats. UAE nationals and residents have been urged to avoid non-essential travel and to remain alert to updates issued by official authorities. The ministry also highlighted the importance of compliance with instructions issued by local governments and international health organisations.
In light of the evolving public health situation related to Ebola virus disease (EVD), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs advises UAE nationals and residents against travel to the Republic of Uganda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the Republic of South Sudan unless… pic.twitter.com/hdVkbrJnCY
— MoFA وزارة الخارجية (@mofauae) May 30, 2026
Travellers currently present in affected countries have been advised to exercise heightened caution, particularly in areas reporting confirmed or suspected Ebola cases. The advisory includes a dedicated emergency contact number for UAE nationals abroad: +97180024, ensuring round-the-clock assistance when required.
The warning aligns with growing international concern over the spread of the virus, which has prompted coordinated monitoring efforts across multiple agencies.
Ebola outbreak
The latest outbreak has affected several regions in central and eastern Africa, with cases confirmed in both Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. According to the World Health Organization, its Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus recently visited Bunia in eastern DRC, an area severely impacted by the outbreak, to assess response measures and engage with local communities.
@DrTedros, Directeur général de l'OMS, est arrivé aujourd'hui à #Bunia????????, en Ituri, l'une des 3 provinces durement touchée par la maladie #Ebola, causée par le virus #Bundibugyo. Il rencontre les autorités & les intervenants, les remerciant pour leur engagement à sauver des vies. pic.twitter.com/H8LrUUKX54
— OMS RDC (@OMSRDCONGO) May 30, 2026
Health authorities have reported significant case numbers, including more than 1,000 suspected infections and hundreds of deaths in the DRC since the outbreak was declared in May. Uganda has also recorded confirmed infections, including fatalities, prompting heightened surveillance and cross-border health controls.
The WHO has warned that the true scale of the outbreak may be larger than reported due to limited testing capacity in affected regions. The disease continues to challenge overstretched health systems, particularly in remote and conflict-affected areas where access to medical care is limited.
Containment efforts
Compounding the crisis, insecurity and ongoing conflict in parts of eastern DRC have made containment efforts significantly more difficult. Armed group activity and displacement have disrupted health services and limited access for medical teams responding to the outbreak. Millions of people are currently living in displacement camps with poor sanitation conditions, increasing the risk of rapid disease transmission.
Uganda recently closed its border with the DRC and introduced a 21-day quarantine for arrivals from affected areas as a preventive measure. International aid organisations, including Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), have warned that response capacity remains stretched, with insufficient medical personnel deployed to the hardest-hit regions.
Despite the challenges, there have been early signs of recovery among some patients, with the WHO confirming at least one discharge following negative tests. However, experts continue to stress that containment requires sustained international coordination, improved surveillance, and community engagement.
Ebola, a highly contagious haemorrhagic fever transmitted through direct contact with bodily fluids, has caused more than 15,000 deaths across Africa over the past five decades. The current strain circulating in the region is the Bundibugyo variant, for which no specific treatment is available, though vaccine development efforts are ongoing.
Health authorities, including the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, continue to monitor the situation closely as regional governments and international partners work to contain further spread.