The United Arab Emirates has stopped issuing most categories of visas to Pakistani nationals following rising concerns about criminal activity involving visitors from Pakistan. The development was disclosed during a meeting of Pakistan’s Senate Functional Committee on Human Rights, where officials warned that if the situation deteriorates further, the restrictions could escalate into a complete ban.
According to reports, UAE authorities are alarmed by recurring cases of organised begging rings, street crime, drug networks, murders, and large-scale overstaying linked to Pakistani nationals. The move affects tourist, visit, and work visas. Individuals who already hold valid visas can still travel, but new applications are not being processed at UAE embassies or visa centres. Only blue passport and diplomatic passport holders are currently eligible.
The issue adds further damage to the global standing of the Pakistani passport, which remains the fourth-lowest ranking worldwide. Gulf and Middle Eastern countries receive more than 800,000 Pakistani visa applicants every year, most of whom travel for work, while some use the region as a launchpad toward Europe and the West. However, multiple regional governments — including Saudi Arabia — have recently toughened scrutiny after arrests of Pakistanis involved in crimes such as begging, narcotics trafficking, and visa fraud.
This is not the first time Gulf authorities have flagged concerns. Dubai’s former police chief, Dhahi Khalfan, publicly accused Pakistanis of supplying drugs to Gulf states during a major narcotics bust in 2018 and urged businesses not to hire them. More recently, the UAE and Saudi Arabia have made police verification mandatory for Pakistani travellers.
Pakistani authorities are attempting to manage the crisis through diplomatic channels. Officials acknowledge that if the UAE formally imposes a ban on Pakistani passports, rolling it back later will be extremely difficult. At the same time, UAE representatives have announced reforms intended to streamline the visa process, including online submissions, e-visas without passport stamping, and improved system-to-system verification. Nearly 500 visas are currently being processed daily at the new UAE Visa Centre in Pakistan, according to Pakistan’s finance ministry.
Even amid these reforms, visa rejections and cancellations remain widespread. With the UAE maintaining strict restrictions and citing repeated criminal cases involving Pakistani nationals, the diplomatic and reputational consequences for Pakistan continue to deepen.
