This move, potentially linked to concerns over criminal activities by some Pakistani travelers, follows similar restrictions in other Gulf states.
Dubai: The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has reportedly stopped issuing visas to Pakistani citizens, an Interior Ministry official in Islamabad told local media on Thursday.
Additional Interior Secretary Salman Chaudhry disclosed the development during a Senate Functional Committee on Human Rights meeting. He cautioned that if the ban is imposed, lifting it may be difficult, according to Pakistan’s leading newspaper, Dawn .
Chaudhry noted that the UAE is currently issuing visas only to holders of blue and diplomatic passports. Senator Samina Mumtaz Zehri, chair of the Senate human rights committee, confirmed these remarks and attributed the restriction to concerns that some Pakistani travellers are “getting involved in criminal activities” upon arrival in the UAE.
The committee was briefed that a few visas were issued recently, and only after significant difficulty. Pakistani nationals have faced widespread visa rejections across several Gulf countries, prompting government efforts to raise the issue with Gulf counterparts.
In December 2024, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and other Gulf states imposed an indefinite visa ban on people from at least 30 Pakistani cities due to rising instances of criminal activity involving Pakistani nationals abroad, including begging, smuggling, drug and human trafficking.
Gulf cities like Dubai and Abu Dhabi remain preferred destinations for many Pakistani workers and travellers, though visa issuance has tightened. The UAE mandated police character certificates for Pakistani applicants earlier, and Pakistani influencers have acknowledged the challenges faced following the restrictions.
However, official UAE sources deny that a formal nationwide visa ban exists. Instead, tighter immigration controls with enhanced security screening and documentation checks, including police verification and stricter vetting, are behind delays and rejections. Diplomatic efforts between Pakistan and the UAE continue to ease visa issuance, especially for work visas and official passport holders.
With inputs from IANS
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