Pakistani Citizens Facing Difficulties in Obtaining UAE Visas: Minister’s Response
A significant number of Pakistanis travel to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in search of employment and for tourism purposes. While obtaining a UAE visa was not a challenging task in the past, today many are facing severe difficulties in acquiring the necessary permits.
Dr. Nafisa Shah, a member of the National Assembly, raised a question to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, asking why UAE visas for Pakistani citizens have been restricted and what the reasons for this limitation are.
In response, Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar clarified that there is no formal ban on UAE visas for Pakistani citizens. However, due to certain issues, the visa application process has become stricter. As a result, some individuals are not being issued visas.
The primary reasons for this include the submission of fake degrees, diplomas, and fraudulent employment contracts by some Pakistani citizens. Additionally, there are cases where individuals have overstayed their visas, and some have been involved in political or criminal activities. Furthermore, members of the Pakistani community have been found misusing social media platforms inappropriately. These factors have contributed to the difficulties Pakistanis are facing in obtaining visas.
The Minister further explained that the issue has been raised with the UAE Embassy in Islamabad and the Pakistani Embassy in Abu Dhabi. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs shares recommendation letters with the UAE Embassy to facilitate timely visa issuance. The Ministry continues to recommend visa issuance and remains in regular contact with the UAE authorities.
In response to the inquiry, it was also mentioned that the UAE Embassy has announced a 5-year visa program. To obtain this visa, applicants need to provide a round-trip ticket, hotel booking, proof of property ownership (if applicable), and an advance payment of 3,000 dirhams.
The government assures that there are no formal restrictions on UAE visas for Pakistani citizens, and efforts continue to ease the visa application process.
