UAE Halts Most Pakistan Visas Amid Crime Concerns

The United Arab Emirates has quietly paused the issuance of most visa categories for Pakistani citizens, a move that surfaced during a meeting of Pakistan’s Senate Functional Committee on Human Rights. Officials cautioned that the situation could escalate if the UAE decides to formalise the suspension into a complete ban.

The halt covers almost all new tourist, visit and work visas. While previously issued visas remain valid, no fresh applications are being processed at UAE embassies or authorised visa centres. Only holders of blue and diplomatic passports are currently being granted entry permits.

The development comes after a series of serious incidents involving Pakistani nationals across the Gulf. Recent cases in the UAE have ranged from organised begging groups and street crimes to drug rackets and overstaying. Earlier this year, two men from India’s Telangana state were killed and another injured in a bakery attack in Dubai, allegedly carried out by a Pakistani national.

Authorities in Gulf countries have repeatedly warned that visit visas are being misused by organised groups for illegal activities. Data shared with the Senate panel indicated that Pakistanis accounted for a significant share of recent arrests linked to such operations.

Every year, more than 800,000 Pakistanis apply for visas to Middle Eastern countries, primarily in search of jobs and better financial prospects. But growing concerns in the region have added pressure. Saudi Arabia, for instance, has arrested thousands of Pakistani beggars in recent years, particularly around Mecca and Madina during pilgrimage seasons. Several Pakistanis have also been detained for drug smuggling, prompting stricter checks.

Past comments from Dubai’s former police chief, Dhahi Khalfan, also resurfaced as the issue gained attention. In 2018, he publicly accused Pakistani nationals of involvement in drug trafficking and urged employers to avoid hiring them.

Reports suggest that since late last year, both the UAE and Saudi Arabia made police verification mandatory for Pakistani travellers. According to briefings shared with the Senate committee, the two countries have come “close to imposing a formal ban” on the Pakistani passport but have so far stopped short of doing so.

Despite the situation, some developments hint at continued cooperation. During a recent meeting in Islamabad, the UAE envoy announced steps to ease visa applications, including online submissions, e-visas without passport stamping and faster digital processing. Pakistan’s finance ministry stated that nearly 500 visas are being handled daily at the new UAE Visa Centre in the country.

Still, for many Pakistanis, the visa freeze adds uncertainty to already existing challenges. Widespread rejections over the past year have disrupted travel plans, job opportunities and family visits. While diplomatic channels are reportedly being used to seek clarification, there has been no official public statement yet from Islamabad.

The UAE has previously imposed short-term restrictions on other nationalities in response to security or overstaying issues. For now, the focus remains on whether the current pause will stay temporary or move toward a broader ban—an outcome that Pakistani officials fear would be difficult to reverse.