Do UAE passport holders need a visa to visit MW?

UAE ordinary passport holders need a visa for Malawi. They are not on Malawi's visa-exempt list and should obtain a tourist eVisa online before travel via the official portal evisa.gov.mw. A single-entry visa (USD 50) permits a stay of up to 90 days. As of mid-2026, United Arab Emirates ordinary passport holders require a visa to enter Malawi for tourism. Malawi overhauled its visa policy under a revised reciprocity-based regime that took effect on 3 January 2026 (Gazette notice of 2 January 2026). Under this regime, visa-free entry is granted to SADC/COMESA members and to nationals of countries that admit Malawians without a visa, plus a defined list of additional exempt states; a separate group of "Category Two" countries may obtain a visa on arrival. The UAE appears on neither the visa-exempt list nor the visa-on-arrival list, so UAE nationals fall into the standard visa-required group. The recommended and most reliable route is the Malawi eVisa, applied for online through the official Department of Immigration and Citizenship Services portal (evisa.gov.mw) before departure. The common tourist option is a single-entry visa costing USD 50, valid for entry within 90 days of issue and allowing a stay of up to 90 days; a six-month multiple-entry visa costs USD 150 and a twelve-month multiple-entry visa around USD 250. Online processing is typically 3 to 5 working days. Fees are paid in US dollars by Visa or MasterCard and are non-refundable even if the application is refused. Travelers should carry a passport valid for at least six months with at least one blank page, proof of onward/return travel and accommodation, and may be asked for yellow fever vaccination proof if arriving from or transiting an endemic country. Because Malawi's new regime is reciprocity-driven and was recently introduced, requirements can change; verify on the official portal shortly before travel. Malawi is in Southern/Eastern Africa and is not part of the Schengen area, so Schengen and ETIAS rules do not apply.