UAE Suspends Visas for Pakistani Citizens Due to Rising Criminal Activity Concerns

The United Arab Emirates has implemented a suspension on visa issuance to Pakistani nationals due to growing concerns over criminal activities perpetrated by visitors upon arrival in the UAE.

During a meeting of the Senate Functional Committee on Human Rights, Pakistan's Additional Interior Secretary Salman Chaudhry revealed this development. He emphasized that once such restrictions are put in place, they become extremely difficult to reverse, according to reporting by Dawn newspaper.

Aisam Baig, an Overseas Employment Promoter, explained that UAE authorities have expressed particular concern about Pakistani travelers on tourist visas engaging in begging activities throughout the country.

Currently, the UAE is only processing visa applications for holders of diplomatic and blue passports from Pakistan.

Senator Samina Mumtaz Zehri, who chairs the Senate human rights committee, noted that only a very limited number of citizens have managed to secure visas "after considerable difficulty."

Prior to this suspension, UAE authorities had already introduced stricter requirements, mandating visa applicants to provide police-issued character certificates.

Gulf nations, particularly Dubai and Abu Dhabi, have traditionally been popular destinations for Pakistani travelers and job seekers. Statistics show that over 800,000 Pakistanis apply annually for visas to Middle Eastern and Gulf countries.

In December 2024, the situation escalated when the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and several other Gulf nations implemented an indefinite ban on granting visas to residents from approximately 30 Pakistani cities. This decision followed a troubling increase in cases involving Pakistani nationals caught begging or participating in various criminal activities including smuggling, drug trafficking, and human trafficking.

Podcaster Nadir Ali highlighted these challenges in an interview, stating: "Saudi Arabia and Dubai were popular destinations, but have now stopped giving visas. I too had to face a great difficulty when I wanted to go for the IIFA Awards. In fact, Saudi Arabia has issued a warning to Pakistan regarding the increasing number of begging cases."

The UAE remains one of Pakistan's most significant trading partners in the Middle East, with a substantial Pakistani expatriate community residing and working in the country.