Kenya Travel Requirements for UAE Citizens and Residents

What you need for Kenya depends on your passport, not your UAE residence visa. Emirati citizens need an approved electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) before they fly, and so do most expatriates. A few nationalities are exempt, so check yours on the official portal. This guide is current to 6 November 2026.

Check your passport first

Kenya’s official eTA portal lists the rule for every nationality. It shows the United Arab Emirates as eTA required, along with Canada, Ireland and many others, while Singapore and many African countries do not need one. If your family holds more than one nationality, check each passport.

Your passport needs at least six months’ validity and one blank page.

Applying for the eTA

Apply only at etakenya.go.ke. A standard eTA costs $30 and is generally processed within three business days. If you book a short trip late, expedited processing costs $100 more and is immediate. According to the official FAQs, each traveller needs their own, and you will need a photo, contact details, your itinerary and your accommodation confirmation. We send you those details once your safari is confirmed.

Ebola: the current position

Kenya reported an imported case of Bundibugyo virus disease, a type of Ebola, in Nairobi in October 2026. The World Health Organization reported nine confirmed cases as of 20 October, all linked to that first patient, and it advises against restrictions on travel. By 3 November, five patients had recovered, and the Ministry of Health reported no new infections for two weeks. It will not declare the outbreak over until a 42-day countdown ends.

Coming back to the UAE

The UAE’s entry restrictions announced in June cover recent travel to the DRC, Uganda and South Sudan, and Kenya was not on that list. Even so, confirm with your airline and the UAE authorities before you book, because these rules can change at short notice and travel history checks may cause delays.

Other countries are stricter. Saudi Arabia has banned entry for anyone who was in Kenya in the previous 21 days, which matters if you travel there for work or Umrah. Plan at least a 21-day gap. Our guide to flights from the UAE has more on the current picture.

Vaccines and malaria

See a travel clinic a few weeks before you leave. The CDC lists Kenya among the countries with areas at risk of yellow fever, so ask about the vaccine and carry any certificate you are given. Malaria is present in many safari areas and on the coast, so ask about tablets, even for a short trip.

Insurance and money

Your UAE health plan may not cover you abroad, so buy travel insurance with medical evacuation. We quote in US dollars, and a 30% deposit confirms your lodges, with the balance due 60 days before travel. Bring some US dollars for tips.

A simple checklist

• Passport with six months’ validity and a blank page
• eTA for each traveller, if your nationality needs one
• Travel clinic visit
• Insurance with medical evacuation
• No Saudi trip within 21 days of leaving Kenya

With those in place, choose your trip from our Kenya safaris from the UAE or read about a long weekend safari from Dubai. For a longer stay, see what a 5-star safari costs.

Last updated: 6 November 2026