• Source:JND
Add as a preferred

UAE Visa Ban Pakistan:The United Arab Emirates has sharply reduced the issuance of new visas to Pakistani nationals holding ordinary passports, triggering widespread concern among job seekers, families, and travel operators.

Though Emirati officials maintain there is no formal ban, senior Pakistani interior ministry officials have confirmed that the UAE has “largely stopped” processing most visa categories for green-passport holders, citing repeated instances of visitors becoming involved in criminal activities after entering the country.

Concerns Over Crime, Forged Documents

According to Additional Interior Secretary Salman Chaudhry, the UAE’s decision stems from growing concern over Pakistani visitors “getting involved in criminal activities” after entering the Gulf state, as reported by Dawn. Officials said both the UAE and Saudi Arabia had, at one stage, considered a complete suspension of the Pakistani passport, a step termed “difficult to reverse” if ever imposed.

UAE has recently deployed AI-based systems to verify credentials, adding another strict layer of scrutiny. Travel agents report rejection rates of nearly 80% for first-time applicants, particularly those seeking single-entry visas or tourist visas to Dubai. Applicants with family ties in the UAE appear to have marginally better chances.

Officials informed the Senate panel that many Pakistanis arriving on visit visas were allegedly engaging in begging, petty theft, drug trafficking, and overstaying, as reported by Dawn and local media. Saudi Arabia also reportedly arrested thousands of Pakistani nationals involved in begging during the Umrah and Hajj seasons. Due to these trends, the UAE is currently issuing visas only to diplomatic and blue-passport holders, leaving millions with ordinary green passports in limbo.

Despite widespread reports, UAE Consul General Bakheet Ateeq Alremeithi told Geo News that “every type of visa is being processed” and that no blanket ban exists. He attributed the spike in rejections to an unprecedented surge in applications. But, Pakistani travel agents and senators maintain that rejections are the highest they have seen in years, as reported by Dawn.

ALSO READ: 'Six Weeks In Death Cell': Imran Khan's Son Demands ‘Proof Of Life’ As Fears Grow Amid Rising Speculation

How Is This 'Ban' Impacting Pakistanis?

Key Impacts on Pakistani Citizens:

  • Severe disruption to job-seeking migration: Thousands who travel on visit visas to search for work are unable to enter the UAE, leaving recruitment agencies flooded with refund requests.
  • Threat to remittances: The UAE hosts one of Pakistan’s largest expatriate communities. A long freeze risks lowering remittances that Pakistan depends on for foreign exchange stability.
  • Cancelled family travel and business trips: Families with members in Dubai or Abu Dhabi are reporting repeated rejections despite clean travel histories.
ALSO READ:Missing For 17 Years: How Pakistani Woman Reunited With Family Through AI Breakthrough
  • Deepening stigma around the Pakistani passport: Ranked among the world’s weakest, its credibility is again under pressure as Gulf countries tighten scrutiny.
  • Uncertainty for workers already in the UAE: Many fear stricter checks on visa renewals, even though existing visas remain valid until expiry.
  • Growing diplomatic strain: Islamabad is now relying on quiet negotiations to prevent a complete ban, officials told the Senate committee.

Also In News