UAE 'confirms' no official visa ban on Pakistanis

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has clarified that there is no official visa ban on Pakistani nationals, as confirmed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) in a letter to the National Assembly on Wednesday.

Responding to a query from Dr. Nafisa Shah, the ministry stated that the UAE Embassy confirmed the introduction of a new five-year visa policy by the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs, and Port Security.

Under this policy, visa applicants must provide round-trip tickets, hotel bookings, proof of property ownership (if applicable), and a down payment of AED 3,000.

The ministry noted that increased scrutiny of Pakistani applicants has resulted from various concerns, including cases of fake degrees, fraudulent employment contracts, overstayed visas, and involvement in political or criminal activities. Additionally, misuse of social media by some individuals has also been flagged.

The Pakistan Embassy in Abu Dhabi has been actively addressing these concerns with UAE authorities at ministerial and under-secretary levels.

Meanwhile, senior officials from the Middle East Division of MoFA continue to engage with the UAE Embassy in Islamabad to ensure smooth visa processing. The ministry also regularly issues recommendation letters to facilitate the issuance of UAE visas for Pakistani applicants.

Despite these challenges, the UAE authorities have reaffirmed that there is no official visa ban on Pakistani nationals.