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A major revelation regarding the UAE’s visa policy for Pakistanis surfaced on Thursday when Additional Interior Secretary Salman Chaudhry informed the Senate Functional Committee on Human Rights that the United Arab Emirates had stopped issuing visas to Pakistani nationals. The disclosure immediately stirred public concern due to its implications for the millions of Pakistanis who travel, work, and live in the UAE.
Speaking before the Senate panel, Chaudhry stressed that both the UAE and Saudi Arabia had “stopped short of imposing an outright ban on the Pakistani passport”. However, he cautioned that if such a ban were ever formally implemented, reversing it would be extremely challenging.
According to the interior ministry official, the UAE is currently issuing visas only to blue passport holders and diplomatic passport holders, leaving ordinary Pakistani passport holders facing severe delays or rejections.
Senator Samina Mumtaz Zehri, the chairperson of the Senate committee, confirmed Chaudhry’s statement to Dawn, adding that the restrictions were linked to UAE authorities’ concerns about Pakistani visitors being involved in criminal activities after entering the country on visit visas. She said the committee was told that only a very small number of visas had been approved recently, and even those came “after much difficulty”.
UAE Diplomat Rejects Rumors of a Visa ‘Ban’
Amid rising speculation and alarm on social media, a senior UAE diplomat in Islamabad — speaking on condition of anonymity — refuted claims of a formal ban. Responding to a question from Dawn, the diplomat insisted,
“There’s no ban on visas for Pakistani citizens.”
This contradiction between Pakistan’s official stance and the UAE’s diplomatic position has deepened public confusion, with many unsure whether visa applications are being restricted, delayed, or quietly discouraged.
UAE Ambassador Announces New Visa Facilitation Measures
In an interesting twist on the same day, UAE Ambassador to Pakistan Salem M. Salem Al Bawab Al Zaabi met with Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb in Islamabad and announced major visa facilitation reforms for Pakistanis.
According to the finance ministry, the reforms include:
- Online visa processing
- E-visas without passport stamping
- Faster system-to-system digital linkages
- Streamlined processing through the new UAE Visa Centre
The UAE envoy shared that nearly 500 visas are now being processed daily at the newly launched UAE Visa Centre in Pakistan. He praised the contributions of Pakistani workers in the UAE and reiterated the Emirates’ commitment to strengthening bilateral ties across trade, investment, culture, and economic cooperation.
Both sides also reviewed ongoing defence cooperation and agreed to explore further opportunities in technology, investment, and people-to-people exchanges.
Background: UAE Visa Issues Throughout the Year
This is not the first time Pakistanis have encountered difficulties with UAE visas in recent months.
- In July, numerous Pakistanis reported visa rejections, prompting Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi to personally raise the issue with UAE authorities. During a meeting on July 11, UAE Lt Gen Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan assured Islamabad of “full support” and promised faster visa processing.
- Earlier, in April, UAE Ambassador Hamad Obaid Ibrahim Salem Al-Zaabi announced that visa problems had been resolved and Pakistanis could apply for the five-year multiple-entry visa.
- In January, the Senate Standing Committee on Overseas Pakistanis was informed that certain categories of UAE visas for Pakistanis had been “unofficially closed”. Overseas Employment Promoter Aisam Baig told the committee that the UAE had concerns about some Pakistanis who traveled on visit visas but became involved in begging or informal work, violating local laws.
However, Senator Zeeshan Khanzada, who chaired the meeting, clarified that there were “no restrictions on work visas”, and the issues applied mainly to visit visas, not employment permits.
A Growing Policy Divide?
The conflicting statements between Pakistan’s interior ministry and UAE diplomats highlight a policy grey area. While UAE officials deny a formal ban, Pakistan’s interior ministry maintains that visas have effectively been halted for most citizens.
The UAE’s announcement of new facilitation measures adds another layer of complexity, suggesting that while official policy may not include a ban, practical restrictions and heightened scrutiny may be affecting visa issuance.
For the millions of Pakistanis who rely on the UAE for employment, business, and family visits, clarity is urgently needed. In the coming days, both governments may need to provide unified signals to ease public uncertainty and ensure that bilateral relations — long rooted in mutual economic and social ties — remain stable and transparent.
