UAE Halts Most Visas for Pakistanis with Ordinary Passports

(UNITED ARAB EMIRATES) The United Arab Emirates has effectively stopped issuing most new visas to Pakistani citizens with ordinary green passports, senior officials in Islamabad say, in one of the toughest measures ever taken by a Gulf state against Pakistan’s travelers and migrant workers. The near‑total freeze, which began taking hold in late November 2025, applies to tourist, visit and work visas and has left thousands of applicants facing abrupt refusals, while the UAE continues to process documents mainly for holders of diplomatic and blue passports.

Official briefings and government reaction

Pakistani officials briefed lawmakers in Islamabad that the move is not yet a formal “passport ban” but warned that the current policy is so strict it has almost the same effect for ordinary travelers. Additional Interior Secretary Salman Chaudhry told the Senate Functional Committee on Human Rights that the UAE’s stance represents the “strictest phase so far” in a relationship where labor migration has long been a lifeline for Pakistan’s economy.

He cautioned that if the visa restrictions harden into a formal ban on Pakistani passports, reversing such a step would be extremely difficult.

• Lawmakers have pressed ministries to clarify the number of rejected applications and whether a formal diplomatic protest has been lodged.
• Pakistan’s government has emphasized quiet engagement with Emirati counterparts rather than public confrontation.

Causes cited by Emirati authorities

Officials familiar with the briefings say the policy shift follows a series of criminal cases in the UAE linked to Pakistani nationals. Emirati authorities have pointed to:

• Begging syndicates
• Drug trafficking
• Street crime

One incident that drew particular attention is a violent bakery attack in Dubai that resulted in fatalities and shocked local communities. This case has been cited internally as an example of how a small number of offenders can trigger security fears affecting millions of law‑abiding Pakistani citizens.

Document fraud and AI screening

Alongside crime concerns, the UAE has flagged a spike in fake educational certificates and other forged documents submitted with visa files. Emirati officials have expanded the use of AI‑based verification systems to screen Pakistani paperwork more aggressively, people familiar with the process say. That extra scrutiny has driven rejection rates even higher.

According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, the combination of security worries and document fraud has pushed the UAE toward a de facto freeze on new entries from Pakistan’s ordinary passport holders, even though no official ban has been published.

Who is affected

A concise summary of passport processing and practical impact:

The impact is most sharply felt in labor‑sending regions of Pakistan, where families rely on Gulf jobs to cover basic living costs. Recruitment agents describe workers who had sold land or taken high‑interest loans for UAE job placements only to see visas refused without clear explanation.

Social and economic effects

Family ties are under strain. Pakistanis living in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah report that parents, spouses and children trying to join them on visit visas have been turned away, sometimes after weeks of waiting.

• Travel agents in Karachi and Lahore warn clients that applying for UAE visit visas on green passports carries a high risk of loss of fees and disappointment.
• Those with dual nationality are being advised to use their second passports where possible.

Business and education disruptions have also been reported:

• Business owners say planned meetings, trade fairs and investment trips have been derailed.
• Students admitted to Emirati universities are unsure whether they can take up places given the visa uncertainty.

Regional implications

The regional context increases the stakes for Pakistan. Saudi Arabia, another major host country for Pakistani workers, has reported the arrest of more than 4,000 Pakistani beggars, especially in the holy cities of Mecca and Madina, and has tightened visa rules in response.

Rights advocates warn that if both the UAE and Saudi Arabia tighten policies for Pakistani citizens, hundreds of thousands of low‑income families could lose remittance income that pays for food, schooling and basic healthcare.

Diplomatic posture and likely next steps

The UAE, which hosts a large Pakistani diaspora and depends on their labor in construction, services and transport, has not publicly detailed the new rules. Officials in Abu Dhabi emphasize that:

• Every country has the right to set its entry conditions.
• The policy is framed as focused on security and document integrity, not ethnicity or religion.
• Continued processing of diplomatic and blue passports signals a desire to preserve state‑to‑state ties.

Analysts say Islamabad will need to show concrete progress in tackling transnational crime networks and fake documentation if it wants to persuade the UAE to ease restrictions on ordinary passport holders.

Practical guidance for Pakistanis attempting travel

For those still trying to reach the UAE, options are limited. Pakistani authorities and legal advisers recommend:

1. Rely on official channels tied to government or international organizations where appropriate.
2. Use registered agents only; avoid middlemen promising “guaranteed visas.”
3. Prefer diplomatic or blue passports for eligible applicants.
4. Consider alternative destinations or delay travel plans until clearer guidance emerges.

Warning: Offers from unscrupulous agents often involve forged paperwork that can lead to arrest and deportation.

The UAE’s immigration portal, operated by the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Port Security, continues to outline standard visa categories and requirements, but applicants in Pakistan say that in practice approvals for green passport holders have almost disappeared.

Human stories and wider consequences

Human stories behind the statistics are surfacing. Workers who spent years in Dubai bakeries, construction sites and delivery jobs describe feeling collectively punished for crimes they did not commit.

• Recruitment agents report cases of invested savings or loans lost when visas are refused.
• Families dependent on remittances face increased hardship.
• Students and business travelers face disrupted plans and uncertain futures.

Immigration lawyers warn this situation highlights how quickly a passport’s real‑world value can erode when security and trust issues arise. The Pakistani passport already offers visa‑free or visa‑on‑arrival access to only a small number of countries and is consistently ranked among the weakest globally.

Key takeaway

Pakistani citizens with green passports should expect long odds if they apply for UAE visas in the short term. Many are being urged to consider other destinations, use alternative passports if available, or delay travel until Abu Dhabi issues clearer public guidance or the informal freeze is lifted or formalized.

Pakistan continues quiet diplomacy and internal efforts aimed at cracking down on human traffickers, fake documentation networks and criminal gangs — steps Islamabad hopes will convince the UAE to ease restrictions on ordinary passport holders.