Pakistani citizens are now eligible for a five-year visa following the resolution of previous issues, the United Arab Emirates Ambassador to Pakistan, Hamad Obaid Ibrahim Salem Al-Zaabi, announced on Tuesday.
The announcement was made during a meeting between UAE Ambassador Hamad Obaid Ibrahim Salem Al-Zaabi and Sindh Governor Kamran Khan Tessori at the Governor’s House.
“Visa issues have been resolved, and Pakistanis are now eligible for a five-year visa,” Zaabi stated, according to a press release issued by the Governor’s House. He also extended an invitation to the governor to visit the UAE visa center at the Karachi consulate.
Governor Tessori expressed gratitude to the UAE envoy for the country’s continued investment in Sindh, particularly in Karachi. In response, the ambassador commended the development projects initiated under the governor’s leadership.
Reports have indicated that UAE authorities have recently tightened screening procedures for Pakistani citizens entering the country, citing concerns over alleged involvement in criminal activities, including begging. On December 23, a Senate committee was informed that all Pakistani travelers to the UAE were required to undergo police verification. Travel agents were also directed to follow these protocols.
During a meeting on January 9, the Senate Standing Committee on Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development was told there were “no restrictions on work visas” for Pakistanis traveling to the UAE. However, it was revealed that visit visas had been “unofficially suspended,” with the UAE expressing concerns over the misuse of such visas by individuals engaging in begging.
In an earlier interview with Geo News in November, UAE Consul General in Karachi, Dr. Bakheet Ateeq Alremeithi, explained that visa rejections for Pakistanis could also be linked to negative behavior on social media. He noted that complaints had been received about the conduct of some Pakistani influencers, particularly on platforms like TikTok, which led to dissatisfaction among UAE authorities and the implementation of stricter visa policies. He clarified, however, that there is no official ban on UAE visas for Pakistani nationals.
