UAE Suspends Visa Issuance for Pakistanis Amid Crime Concerns

Post by : Raina Nasser

The United Arab Emirates has announced a halt to visa issuance for Pakistani citizens following escalating concerns about the involvement of some travelers in begging and various criminal activities upon arrival in the country with visit visas instead of work visas. This unexpected suspension has raised alarms among travelers, families, and recruitment agencies in Pakistan.

This decision surfaced during a session of Pakistan’s Senate Functional Committee on Human Rights, where Additional Interior Secretary Salman Chaudhry disclosed that the UAE expressed significant worries regarding the misconduct of Pakistani visitors. He emphasized the challenge of reversing such a ban once enforced.

Overseas Employment Promoter Aisam Baig highlighted that UAE authorities noticed a growing trend of individuals from Pakistan entering on visit visas, only to engage in begging afterward. This trend has alarmed the UAE government, which has stringent laws in place to uphold public safety and order. Currently, only those holding blue and diplomatic passports are receiving entry permits.

Senator Samina Mumtaz Zehri, chair of the Senate Committee, noted that only a few Pakistani applicants are presently receiving visas with considerable difficulty. Families hoping to reunite and job seekers aiming for opportunities in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah are facing significant disruptions under the new mandate.

Previously, in late 2024, the UAE and other Gulf nations imposed an indefinite visa ban on individuals from over 30 cities in Pakistan, coinciding with a spike in incidents involving begging, smuggling, drug trafficking, and human trafficking linked to some visiting Pakistanis.

The UAE had earlier mandated police-issued character certificates to ensure visa applicants had no previous criminal records. Despite these requirements, repeated infractions led to the recent suspension.

For millions of Pakistanis, Gulf nations represent vital employment and tourism avenues. Annually, more than 800,000 Pakistanis seek visas for the UAE and various Middle Eastern countries, with many families relying on remittances sent by expatriate workers, amplifying the economic implications of the new restrictions.

Nadir Ali, a well-known Pakistani podcaster, revealed his own struggles in obtaining a visa for Dubai, stating that both Saudi Arabia and the UAE have alerted Pakistan regarding the growing incidence of beggars and illegal workers in their cities.

As one of Pakistan’s foremost trading allies, the UAE accommodates a large Pakistani workforce across numerous sectors. Unless Pakistan can mitigate the concerns raised by the UAE, the suspension could significantly affect travel, job opportunities, and business engagements between the two nations.