Confiscated passports and long delays: UAE restricts entry of Uzbek football fans ahead of World Cup qualifier match

Hundreds of Uzbeks who flew from Tashkent to Sharjah on June 2 to attend the football World Cup qualifier match between the UAE and Uzbekistan were detained at Sharjah Airport. This was reported by representatives of the Uzbek media and bloggers who were not allowed entry into the UAE.

A correspondent from Gazeta.uz, who was present at Sharjah Airport, reported that initially women and elderly passengers were allowed through, while the remaining men were asked for additional documents.

“The men and young men were asked to fill out questionnaires for first-time arrivals, provide documents confirming hotel bookings, and copies of return tickets. All documents were taken away; copies were made, and the documents were kept without being returned. We landed at 06:05 Sharjah time, and now it is 11:05. There has been no explanation or information about when or why we will be released,” the journalist said.

Social media users also reported that Uzbek passports were confiscated, and people were being held against their will.

“They are not letting us leave Sharjah Airport. It’s been five hours already. When we asked why, they just said we have to wait. There are about 100 people, but we don’t know why or when we will be released. If I had known this, I wouldn’t have come. Also, only Uzbek passports were taken,” said Sherzod Rajabov, an Uzbek citizen.

It was reported that Uzbek citizens were finally allowed to leave the airport around 14:30 Tashkent time. The exact number of people released is unknown.

It appears that the UAE also refused entry to Uzbek travelers on June 1. Journalist Nodirkhoja Yuldoshev wrote that Uzbek journalists flying to the UAE on June 1 were held at the airport for nearly eight hours.

“There are constant problems on Abu Dhabi and Sharjah flights recently. Mainly tourists aged 25 to 35 are being held. Families and older people are not affected. My advice: do not travel from Sharjah or Abu Dhabi on match day, as you might miss the game. There are no issues from Dubai,” he wrote.

Social media also circulated a letter sent by the Tashkent City Tourism Department to business entities operating in tourism. The letter quoted a request from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Consular-Legal Department, warning that the 5,000 Uzbek football fans traveling might exceed stadium capacity, creating security risks. For this reason, travel agencies were advised not to send tourists to the UAE during these days, considering the likelihood of Uzbek citizens being turned back by UAE security authorities at airports.

Kun.uz sent inquiries to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to clarify the situation and to ask what measures the MFA and Uzbek diplomatic missions in the UAE are taking regarding this discriminatory treatment of Uzbek citizens.

The MFA press secretary, Akhror Burhonov, said that an official statement on the issue would be released soon.

A few days ago, some Uzbeks holding UAE ID cards who purchased tickets for the match received emails informing them of ticket cancellations and refunds.

On June 5, Uzbekistan’s national football team will face the UAE in the third round of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. The match will take place at the Al-Nahyan Stadium in Abu Dhabi.

Currently, Iran leads Group A, having already secured World Cup qualification. For Uzbekistan to qualify, they must at least draw away against the UAE or defeat Qatar at home. This would secure a World Cup spot regardless of other results. Conversely, if the UAE cannot defeat Uzbekistan at home, they will fail to qualify directly.

It is worth noting that on November 21, 2024, in the Al-Ain Emirate of the UAE, the body of an Israeli-Moldovan rabbi and UAE resident, Tzvi Kogan, was found with signs of foul play. Three Uzbek citizens were convicted of involvement in the murder.

Following this incident, Uzbek citizens have faced numerous difficulties entering the UAE, obtaining work permits, and visas. In particular, on November 25 last year, several Uzbek workers in Dubai were detained by police. Some were released, some deported, and criminal cases were initiated against five individuals.