UAE Suspends Majority of Pakistani Visas Due to Crime Worries

The UAE has taken significant steps to suspend the processing of most visa categories for individuals from Pakistan, a decision revealed during a session of Pakistan’s Senate Functional Committee on Human Rights. Officials indicated that if the situation worsens, this could evolve into a total ban on visa issuance.

This suspension affects nearly all new applications for tourist, visit, and work visas. While previously issued permits remain in effect, no new applications are being accepted at UAE embassies or authorized visa centers. Currently, entry permits are only being issued to holders of blue and diplomatic passports.

This action follows various incidents involving Pakistani nationals in the Gulf region. Recent occurrences in the UAE have included organized begging, street crimes, drug-related offenses, and overstaying. Earlier this year, an attack in a bakery in Dubai resulted in the death of two men from Telangana, allegedly carried out by a Pakistani individual.

Authorities across the Gulf have repeatedly warned of visa misuse by organized crime groups for illicit purposes. Data presented to the Senate indicated that Pakistanis were significantly involved in recent arrests related to these activities.

Annually, more than 800,000 Pakistani citizens seek visas to Middle Eastern nations, primarily for work opportunities and better living conditions. Concerns in the region are rising, with Saudi Arabia detaining thousands of Pakistani beggars, especially during pilgrimage seasons, along with multiple arrests related to drug trafficking.

Comments from former Dubai police chief Dhahi Khalfan are resurging as the situation unfolds. In 2018, he accused Pakistani nationals of drug-related crimes and advised employers to reconsider hiring them.

Reports suggest that since late last year, police verification has become mandatory for Pakistani travelers in both the UAE and Saudi Arabia. Briefings shared with the Senate committee highlighted that both countries approached imposing a complete ban on Pakistani passports, though no official decision has been made yet.

Despite these tensions, there are indications of ongoing diplomatic dialogue. The UAE envoy recently announced measures to enhance visa processing, such as online submissions, e-visas devoid of passport stamping, and expedited digital processing. According to Pakistan’s finance ministry, around 500 visas are processed daily at the new UAE Visa Centre in the country.

Nonetheless, the freeze on visas introduces added anxiety for many Pakistanis. A significant number of visa applications were rejected in the past year, disrupting travel plans and job opportunities. While officials are attempting to clarify the situation through diplomatic channels, no formal statement has emerged from Islamabad as of yet.

The UAE has previously enacted temporary restrictions on other nationalities due to security or overstay issues. Currently, the attention is on whether this visa pause will remain temporary or escalate into a wider ban—an outcome that Pakistani officials worry could be challenging to reverse.