The United Arab Emirates has formally refuted circulating reports suggesting a visa ban on Pakistani citizens, with embassy officials clarifying that no such restrictions exist. This clarification comes directly from a senior official at the UAE Embassy in Pakistan who spoke anonymously to Dawn newspaper on Thursday, November 27, 2025.
The diplomatic reassurance follows earlier statements from Pakistan’s Additional Interior Secretary Salman Chaudhry, who had informed a Senate committee that visa issuance appeared limited to diplomatic and official passport holders. The UAE official specifically countered this perception, emphasizing that regular visa processing for Pakistani nationals continues uninterrupted.
This development occurs within the context of robust bilateral relations between the two nations. Pakistan represents the second-largest expatriate community in the UAE, with approximately 1.7 million citizens residing primarily in Dubai and the Northern Emirates. Historical ties have strengthened through continuous diplomatic engagement and substantial labor migration, with over 230,000 Pakistanis relocating to the UAE during the 2023-24 financial year alone.
Significant visa facilitation reforms were simultaneously unveiled by newly-appointed UAE Ambassador to Pakistan Salem Mohammed Al Zaabi during a meeting with Pakistan’s Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb. These enhancements include streamlined online visa processing, electronic visas without physical passport stamping, and improved system interoperability between governments. A newly established UAE visa center in Pakistan is currently processing approximately 500 applications daily, demonstrating operational normalization.
In a parallel development, Pakistan’s Interior Ministry announced in May 2025 stringent measures for deportees, including passport cancellation and travel restrictions for those returning from the UAE and other countries. However, the recent diplomatic exchanges highlight continued cooperation across trade, investment, and technological sectors, reaffirming both nations’ commitment to strengthening their strategic economic partnership.