UAE Restricts Pakistani Visas Due to Criminal Activities, Interior Ministry Informs Senate Committee

Islamabad (Daily Qudrat) — The Pakistani Interior Ministry has informed the Senate committee that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has stopped issuing visas to Pakistani nationals, citing involvement of some individuals in criminal activities.

Additional Secretary Interior Salman Chaudhry briefed the Senate Functional Committee on Human Rights, explaining that while Pakistan and the UAE share strong diplomatic, economic, and cultural ties, the UAE — a key trade partner and major destination for Pakistani expatriates — has limited visa issuance.

Chaudhry stated that the UAE was close to imposing a complete ban on Pakistani passport holders, similar to Saudi Arabia, but the decision was postponed at the last moment. He warned that if a full ban were implemented, reversing it would be extremely difficult.

Currently, the UAE is reportedly only issuing visas to holders of diplomatic and blue passports. Senator Samina Mumtaz Zahri, chairperson of the Senate Human Rights Committee, confirmed the ministry’s briefing, stating that the visa restrictions are due to a few Pakistanis engaging in crimes after arriving in the UAE. She noted that recently only a very limited number of visas have been issued under considerable difficulty.

The Interior Ministry emphasized that the issue is being monitored closely to maintain bilateral relations and to safeguard the interests of law-abiding Pakistani expatriates.