UAE Stops Issuing Visas To Pakistanis

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has paused most visa issuances for Pakistani citizens, citing concerns about criminal activities involving individuals travelling to the Gulf nation. Pakistani officials are worried this could escalate into a complete ban, further damaging the country's passport reputation, already ranked as one of the weakest globally.

Pakistani nationals are notably involved in numerous incidents, including begging rings, street crimes, murders, drug trafficking, and overstaying visas in the UAE. These incidents have prompted the UAE to halt all new visa applications from Pakistan, impacting tourist, visit, and work permits, although existing visas remain valid until they expire.

Impact on Pakistani Visa Applicants

Every year, over 8,00,000 Pakistanis apply for visas to Gulf and Middle Eastern countries, aiming for better job opportunities. Many also use these regions as stepping stones to reach Western nations. However, illegal activities by some Pakistani nationals have raised serious concerns among regional authorities, leading to stricter visa policies.

In recent years, Saudi Arabia arrested over 4,000 Pakistani beggars, especially during Umrah and Haj. Drug smuggling and other crimes by Pakistanis have further led to tightened visa scrutiny. In a related incident, a Pakistani national allegedly attacked two men from Telangana, injuring one fatally, at a Dubai bakery.

New Visa Processing Measures

Despite the current restrictions, UAE Ambassador to Pakistan, Salem M Salem Al Bawab Al Zaabi, announced new visa processing measures. These include online applications, e-visas without passport stamping, and faster system-to-system links. The UAE Visa Centre in Pakistan processes nearly 500 visas daily, according to Pakistan's finance ministry.

The UAE, Saudi Arabia, and other Gulf countries now require police verification for Pakistani travellers. This policy came after increased incidents involving Pakistanis. In 2018, Dubai's Head of General Security, Dhahi Khalfan, tweeted in Arabic, urging against hiring Pakistanis due to drug-related concerns, calling it a "national duty" to avoid employing them.

Visa Restrictions and Diplomatic Efforts

The UAE only issues visas to holders of blue and diplomatic passports from Pakistan. Additional Interior Secretary Salman Chaudhry warned that if a formal ban is imposed, reversing it would be challenging. Diplomatic channels are being employed to resolve the issue and prevent a total ban.

Visa-related tensions between Pakistan and the UAE have persisted for several months. In July, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi discussed visa rejections with his UAE counterpart. Earlier, in April, the UAE ambassador announced a five-year visa option for Pakistanis, despite reports of unofficial visa closures in January.