UAE Stops Issuing Most Visas for Pakistanis Amid Crime Concerns!
The UAE has halted issuing most visas to Pakistani people, allowing only blue and diplomatic passport holders for now. Although UAE authorities deny an official ban, they connected the action to worries about illicit activity. The situation remains murky as both countries contemplate relaxing limitations.
In an unexpected step, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has stopped issuing most types of visas to Pakistani citizens. During a hearing of a parliamentary committee, a senior official from Pakistan's interior ministry affirmed this decision. This measure followed increased worries about criminal activity involving some Pakistani nationals in the Gulf state.
Only diplomatic and blue passports are accepted.
The UAE still issues some visas in spite of the suspension. All bearers of diplomatic and blue passports are currently eligible for visas.
Notably, blue passports are provided to government officials and other approved persons, while green passports, held by ordinary citizens, are not being accepted at this moment.
Pakistan’s Additional Interior Secretary Salman Chaudhry remarked that both Saudi Arabia and the UAE have not totally banned Pakistani passports. He cautioned that it would be extremely difficult to repeal such a restriction when it was put in place.
Why the UAE Stopped Issuing Visas?
The head of the Senate committee, Senator Samina Mumtaz Zehri, stated that the UAE connected its ruling to situations in which Pakistani visitors were charged with crimes after entering the nation.
She claimed authorities told the committee that the UAE has given very few visas recently, and those approvals required great effort and time.
UAE Denies An Official Ban
Official visa bans have not been confirmed by UAE officials, despite these allegations and statements from Pakistani officials. Pakistani visa applications are still being processed, according to the UAE Embassy in Islamabad and the Consulate in Karachi. But it moves more slowly.
Travelers and recruiters are confused as a result of this conflicting messaging.
Although "there is no official ban on Pakistani visas," a diplomatic source in the UAE told local media that more stringent screening and documentation checks are now in place.
The UAE has previously imposed restrictions on visas.
The UAE has previously enforced stringent visa regulations. In 2022, the nation temporarily ceased providing visas in 24 Pakistani cities. According to reports at the time, the action was taken in reaction to widespread visitation visa abuse.
Many agents allegedly sent people to the UAE on visitation visas under false pretenses that they were work visas, which caused misunderstanding, unlawful employment, and legal issues for the travelers after they got there.
Countries Currently Affected by Suspensions of UAE Visas
While the UAE has not officially named Pakistan among the prohibited countries, visa suspensions now apply to 9 countries, including:
Uganda Sudan Somalia
Cameroon
Libya Afghanistan Yemen Lebanon
Bangladesh
These limits are part of the UAE’s broader immigration review, which focuses on security, documentation difficulties, and misuse of visit visas.
Pakistan's Close Relations with the UAE
One of Pakistan's main commercial partners in the Middle East and a popular destination for Pakistani laborers is the United Arab Emirates. Millions of Pakistani expatriates live and work across Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah, bringing home billions in remittances each year.
Thousands of families who depend on these occupations could be impacted by any visa restriction, even if it is just temporary.
Things Travelers Need to Know
Ordinary Pakistani people are currently likely to experience increased wait periods or rejections for work or visitation visas to the United Arab Emirates. Before applying, travelers are recommended to check directly with UAE embassies or official visa offices.
Many Pakistanis are hopeful the limits are just temporary because the situation is still unclear until both governments provide an official explanation.
