Pakistan scrambles as UAE tightens visas, Islamabad says full passport ban was ‘on the table’

UAE visa shock for Pakistan

Pakistan’s government has expressed alarm after learning that the United Arab Emirates has effectively halted visa issuance for most Pakistani citizens and came close to imposing a full passport ban, a development officials warn could have long-term diplomatic and economic consequences.

Additional Interior Secretary Salman Chaudhry disclosed the situation while briefing the Senate Functional Committee on Human Rights on Thursday, according to Dawn. He told lawmakers that both Saudi Arabia and the UAE had “stopped short of imposing a ban on the Pakistani passport”, cautioning that once enforced, such a restriction would be extremely difficult to reverse. He said that, for now, the UAE is issuing visas only to holders of blue and diplomatic passports, shutting out ordinary citizens who travel on green passports.

Committee chairperson Senator Samina Mumtaz Zehri confirmed the assessment, linking the curbs to concerns raised by UAE authorities about Pakistani nationals “getting involved in criminal activities”. She said that only a handful of visas had been issued in recent months and that too “after much difficulty”, reinforcing Islamabad’s worries that the informal restrictions are already in effect.

The latest disclosures have intensified pressure on Pakistan’s government, which has repeatedly taken up the issue with Emirati officials. In July, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi raised a spike in visa rejections with his UAE counterpart. Following those talks, UAE Interior Minister Lt Gen Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan assured Pakistan of “full support” in expediting approvals as Naqvi sought relaxation in visa policies.

Earlier, in April, UAE Ambassador Salem M. Salem Al Bawab Al Zaabi had publicly announced that visa issues had been resolved and that Pakistanis would be eligible for a five-year visa. However, that optimism has now given way to renewed uncertainty.

Adding to the mixed signals, the same ambassador briefed Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb in Islamabad on new visa facilitation measures on Thursday, according to the Finance Ministry. The reforms include online visa applications, e-visas without passport stamping, improved digital processing and faster system-to-system linkages. The ministry said the newly launched UAE Visa Centre in Pakistan is currently processing nearly 500 applications a day.

Despite these assurances, concerns in Pakistan have not eased. Lawmakers were earlier told in January that some UAE visas had been “unofficially closed”. Overseas Employment Promoter Aisam Baig had warned the Senate Standing Committee on Overseas Pakistanis that Emirati authorities were uneasy about Pakistanis travelling on visit visas and then engaging in begging rather than legitimate work. However, committee chairman Senator Zeeshan Khanzada had clarified at the time that no restrictions applied to work visas.

The visa uncertainty carries serious implications for Pakistan. The UAE hosts one of the largest overseas Pakistani communities and is a critical source of remittances, making visa access economically vital. It is also one of Pakistan’s most important trading partners in the Gulf, anchoring a relationship that spans diplomacy, labour and investment.

For Islamabad, the near-imposition of a passport ban has triggered urgent diplomatic efforts to prevent any further tightening. While Emirati officials continue to highlight technical reforms in visa processing, Pakistani lawmakers and officials remain focused on ensuring that ordinary citizens regain reliable access to travel, amid fears that informal curbs could harden into formal restrictions.

(With inputs from agencies)