UAE Temporarily Halts Most Visas for Pakistani Citizens Amid Security Concerns

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has temporarily suspended the issuance of most visas for Pakistani citizens, citing rising security concerns. The move affects tourist, visit, and employment visas, while blue and diplomatic passport holders remain unaffected (Dawn, 2025).The decision has sparked uncertainty among travellers, job seekers, and the large Pakistani expatriate community in the UAE.

Key Details of the Suspension  

• Millions of Pakistanis live and work in the UAE, contributing to sectors such as construction, transportation, hospitality, retail, and domestic services. Their remittances form a vital part of Pakistan’s foreign exchange earnings.
• Additional Interior Secretary Salman Chaudhry confirmed during a meeting of the Senate Functional Committee on Human Rights that the UAE had stopped issuing visas to most Pakistani nationals (Dawn, 2025).
• Chaudhry warned that if a full ban were imposed, it would be difficult to reverse.
• Senator Samina Mumtaz Zehri, chair of the committee, noted that the restrictions were prompted by incidents involving some Pakistani nationals in criminal activities, visa overstays, and organised illegal operations (Dawn, 2025).
• A senior UAE diplomat dismissed social media claims of a complete ban, stating, “There’s no ban on visas for Pakistani citizens” (Dawn, 2025).

Measures to Facilitate Visa Processing  

The UAE is taking steps to make visa processing smoother for Pakistani travellers:

• Online visa applications
• E-visas without passport stamping
• Faster system-to-system linkages

Nearly 500 visas are being processed daily at the newly launched UAE Visa Centre in Pakistan, according to a statement shared by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb on X (Dawn). UAE Ambassador Salem M. Salem Al Bawab Al Zaabi highlighted the importance of bilateral cooperation in trade, investment, and cultural ties while appreciating the longstanding contributions of Pakistanis in the UAE. Both countries reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing strategic, economic, and people-to-people partnerships, including ongoing defence cooperation.

Moving Forward

Authorities in Pakistan have urged stronger monitoring, tighter background checks, and closer coordination with UAE officials to ensure that visa misuse is minimised. While the suspension is temporary, it serves as a reminder of the need for compliance with UAE laws and the potential consequences of illegal activities abroad.

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