What was a simmering issue, having been circulated quietly among Pakistani travellers for months, has been confirmed at the official level. The United Arab Emirates has effectively banned the issuance of standard visas to most Pakistani passport holders, according to an announcement by senior Pakistani authorities.
The move, while not labelled formally as a ban, aligns with a growing pattern of rejections that many people have faced since mid-year. It has raised questions about diplomacy and security concerns, raising fear about the long-lasting impact on tens of thousands who rely on the UAE for work, travel and family visits.
Why the Restrictions Were Imposed
The Senate Functional Committee on Human Rights was told that curbs are based on the apprehensions regarding the criminal activity involving a few Pakistani nationals who reached the UAE. Committee chairperson Senator Samina Mumtaz Zehri also shared the opinion that the repeated incidents forced the Emirati authorities to increase the entry rules.
The exact number of actual cases is not known; however, the impression of an increase in unlawful activity appears to have shaped this decision. According to officials, only holders of diplomatic and blue passports are presently exempt, which leaves the general public in suspense.
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Months of Quiet Rejections
Already in July, travellers said visa refusals were spiking. Applicants reported that categories which were earlier routinely passed such as short-term visits, job-seekers visas and family entries were increasingly being refused without reason.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi raised the issue in a July meeting with UAE Lt Gen Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The curbs remained in place despite an assurance of cooperation. The lack of clarity has left many Pakistanis unsure whether to apply at all, fearing yet another rejection.
Conflicting Signals Over the Years
What complicates matters is the contrast this creates with earlier promises. In April, UAE Ambassador Hamad Obaid Ibrahim Salem Al-Zaabi was quoted as saying visa challenges had been resolved and that Pakistanis would soon benefit from long-term, multi-entry permits.
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Yet by January this year, a Senate committee had already noted that several categories had been unofficially closed. The recent acknowledgement by Pakistani authorities only confirms what many on the ground had long suspected.
What Will be for Ban
Though there isn’t an outright ban, officials warn that any further escalation may be hard to reverse. For now, diplomacy will have to do its work quietly behind the scenes as thousands wait for clarity on when regular travel between Pakistan and the UAE will return to normal.
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Disclaimer: This article offers general analysis based on available information and should not be treated as legal, immigration or diplomatic advice.
