I’ve been holding this in my chest, and it’s been quietly crushing me.
I’m not writing this to complain. I’m writing because I don’t know where else to put the pain, and maybe — just maybe — someone will read this and understand how it feels to be told, without a word, “you don’t belong here.”
I’m Tunisian. I live in France, work full-time in tech, pay my taxes, follow the rules, stay quiet. I’ve always believed that if you do things the right way — honestly, cleanly — life rewards you with freedom and dignity. That belief is how I built my life here.
And a big part of that life is my best friend.
He’s French. He’s more than a friend, really — he’s my chosen family. We travel together all the time. It’s our thing. We’ve made memories in cafés in Lisbon, beaches in Croatia, alleyways in Japan. We share jokes, playlists, playlists again (I make better ones), and sometimes, we even share the silence of a good walk in a new place. It’s the kind of friendship you don’t get twice in a lifetime.
So we planned a new trip — to Dubai.
Fifteen days. Just the two of us.
We booked a hotel we’d dreamed of, picked out restaurants, shared Google Maps pins like kids trading cards. I saved and planned carefully. I work hard, and I don’t live in luxury, so this trip — this 5,000 euro trip — was an investment in joy. In friendship. In a memory that hadn’t been made yet.
We paid everything upfront.
The flights. The hotel. Everything.
Non-refundable.
He didn’t need a visa.
I did.
I submitted my application with everything required.
Return ticket. Payslips. Employment contract. French residency card. Bank statements. Proof I had no reason to stay, and every reason to return.
I was confident.
I’ve never overstayed a visa. Never broken a law. I just wanted to see, feel, taste, discover. Like any traveler.
A few days later, I got the answer:
Refused. No reason. No explanation. Just… no.
I reapplied. Tried another channel. Nothing changed.
Just another cold rejection.
He looked at me and said, “I’m not going without you.”
I told him, “You should. You’re allowed. You paid for it.”
He just shook his head and said, “Why would I go somewhere that refuses someone like you?”
That was the moment that broke me.
Not the rejection. Not the lost money.
But the look in his eyes — the sadness of watching your best friend be treated like a second-class human, just because of a passport.
Later I learned that Tunisian men are often quietly refused UAE tourist visas. Even those living abroad, with clean records and strong documentation.
Nothing official. Nothing stated. Just a silent wall.
And now I sit here, with an empty travel folder, a canceled dream, and a best friend who just wanted to see the world with me — and can’t.
I’m writing this in tears, because for the first time in a long time… I feel like I did everything right, and it still wasn’t enough.
I don’t want money. I don’t want pity.
I just want someone to know — this happens.
It’s real.
It’s quiet.
And it hurts in ways you don’t always know how to say.
Thank you for reading,
– Sed
A person who still believes in the world, even when it closes its doors.
Comments
There are other doors that open. The world is large. Love and hugs
I’m so sorry you had to go through this pain.
Your friend proved he has your back no matter what. That is worth more than any trip.
Sod Dubai, they don’t deserve your visit. The world is a big place, hopefully you can find somewhere even better to go to.
Also, your mate is a great friend.
Your friend just proved they have your back for life. This situation sucks, but those type of friendships are one in a million.
This country doesn’t deserve you, your business, your money, nor your best friends money. I’m so sorry that you’re going through this – no one deserves to be treated like a second class citizen, no matter what your passport is or what your nationality is. Create another trip with your best friend, one that would serve better memories for you two, the world is vast and beautiful and they would be lucky to have you
Go to another country during that time lol
To be 100% honest, I don’t understand the whole “Dubai/Abu Dhabi/Catar as turist destinations” thing… Soooo many better places to visit
You will see many amazing places and meet wonderful people, perhaps none as much as your friend. You two are fortunate to have each other.
Who’d want to go to Dubai anyway. I can think of 1000…at least other countries I’d choose to visit first. Sorry u lost the money…life lesson, not every country thinks with a normal brain.
Not quite the same as you but I recently got rejected from nursing school. I have an increasingly strong background in the medical field, literally years of experience in so many areas, got all the required papers, did everything right but still got rejected.
My therapist helped me see that it’s okay to grieve a “no”. It feels so shitty when you do everything in your power to take control of life only to essentially walk right into a brick wall you didn’t see coming. You’re grieving a dream, and that’s okay.
Did you pay with a credit card by any chance? You could do charge backs on everything.
Also that truly sucks, I’m sorry. But you have a great friendship.
I’m so sorry.
Same here! Wanted to go to Iceland but could not for the love of life get a schengen visa so I know how it feels
I’m sending you all the hugs and thoughts. The way the world treats the ‘global south’ is abhorrent. You deserve all the same opportunities as anyone else, regardless of what nation is on your passport. I’m sorry.
Would pay 50 times what you spent on a friend like yours. You’re lucky in life.
Don’t fret the small stuff, 5k is nothing when you think about what you’ve gained. Perspective.
Japan. Go to Japan. I can’t travel too long because of my disabilities 🙂 please go and have fun.
I think you should be happier that you have a friend who stands by their ideals more than their money.
Honestly, Dubai is not worth it anyway. There are far more interesting places to visit on this earth
If your flying Emirates their visa have higher success rate through their website.
Dubai seems like a soulless city anyways
Those who don’t want you does not deserve you.
Plan a spontaneous road trip to a nearby location: the sea (Normandy, Brittany, or the Atlantic coast), or the quieter Alps. As long as you’re with friends, you’ll have fun!
Good luck getting your French passport if you want one!
I’m so sorry that you’re experiencing this.
To be African in this world is to constantly be made to feel less than and that you do not belong. Usually from the countries that do the most to exploit our continent. Constant humiliations and rejections.
Recently my friends were denied tourist visas to visit Spain because they were asked why they were traveling as a family. Apparently Africans are not allowed to vacation as a family. How dare they? Totally unheard of. /s
Mais putain qu’est ce que vous comptez faire pendant 15 jours dans cet enfer ?
C’est littéralement un des endroits les plus vulgaires, sordide et inintéressant du monde
Venez à Montréal pour avoir du plaisir à la place. Ça parle français, multiculturel et plein de choses à faire surtout l’été. 😁
Dubai is a soulless place. I know it looks shiny and all the influencers go there, but it has zero merit. It’s built on the blood & lives of literal slaves. Save your money and take your friend where you’re welcomed, not where you’re rejected solely on the base of the place you were born.
You have a really good friend there, that’s worth more than all the fancy cars in Dubai.
ride or die friend. you won in life. fuck them countries.
Welcome to the UAE! Well, not really because they said no, but you catch my drift, I hope.
There might be travel insurance that covers costs in case of a visa getting denied but I can’t see this being a cheap insurance, if it exists.
I’m glad your friend is being a good role model in values and solidarity and I wish you all the best in future travel endeavours.
But I’m afraid it’s gonna have to be cancellable, refundable bookings for places that require a visa from now on.
Well good time to say “Fuck golf countries”. And don’t give me the “beautiful muslim countries successful etc. bullshit”, they’re superficial hypocritical societies built on slavery, superficial values, braindead consumerism and trying to attract and emulate the worst aspects of western countries to attract tourists and wealthy expats.
Spend your money elsewhere and use this as a learning opportunity to be more wary of inauthentic places with dubious morals and justice. And sorry for the bad experience, people from the Maghreb/North Africa/Africa are often treated like shit
With a friend like that you could walk down the street together and have an infinitely better experience than anywhere else in the world.