Islamabad: The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has suspended the issuance of visas to Pakistani citizens, a senior Interior Ministry official in Islamabad informed a Senate committee on Thursday, according to local media reports.
Additional Interior Secretary Salman Chaudhry shared the update during a meeting of the Senate Functional Committee on Human Rights. “If a ban is imposed, getting it removed would be difficult,” he was quoted as saying by Dawn.
Chaudhry stated that visas are currently being issued only to those traveling on blue or diplomatic passports. Committee chairperson Senator Samina Mumtaz Zehri confirmed the remarks, saying authorities in the UAE had raised concerns about Pakistani travelers becoming involved in criminal activities after arrival.
She added that the committee was briefed about a near-complete halt in visa approvals for Pakistanis, with only a few exceptions processed “after much difficulty.”
Pakistani travelers have increasingly faced visa rejections in several Gulf nations. The government has reportedly discussed the matter with regional counterparts during recent meetings.
In December 2024, the UAE, Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states imposed an indefinite ban on visas for citizens from more than 30 Pakistani cities, following a surge in cases involving begging, drug trafficking, human smuggling and other criminal offenses abroad.
The UAE — especially Dubai and Abu Dhabi — remains one of the most popular destinations for Pakistani workers and visitors. Prior to the current situation, the Emirates had already made police character certificates mandatory for Pakistani visa applicants.
Travel influencers have also acknowledged the growing challenges. In an interview last year, Pakistani YouTuber Nadir Ali said many applicants faced serious hurdles, noting that Gulf states “have now stopped giving visas” due to rising complaints about illegal activities.
