Do UAE passport holders need a visa to visit ER?

UAE ordinary passport holders need a visa to enter Eritrea. There is no eVisa or general visa-on-arrival; you must apply in advance at an Eritrean embassy or consulate before you travel. Eritrea requires a visa from nearly all foreign nationals, including United Arab Emirates ordinary passport holders. Only Kenyan and Ugandan citizens enjoy visa-free access, and visa-on-arrival is limited to Ethiopia and Sudan, so Emiratis are not eligible for any visa-free or VoA channel. Eritrea does not operate an electronic visa (eVisa) system. UAE travelers must obtain a tourist visa in advance from an Eritrean diplomatic mission (embassy or consulate), typically through a consular processing system, before departure. The tourist visa is normally issued for a single entry, is valid for three months from the date of issue (during which you must enter), and permits a stay of about 30 days that can be extended at the Immigration office in Asmara. Processing generally takes a minimum of 15 business days, and applicants should allow several weeks. Note that some sources mention a pre-arranged/sponsored visa that can be collected on arrival, but this requires advance approval and is not a walk-up visa-on-arrival, so the conservative and standard route remains an embassy-issued visa obtained before travel. A passport valid for at least six months, proof of accommodation, proof of sufficient funds, and onward/return travel are required, and a yellow fever vaccination certificate may be requested depending on prior travel.