UAE Visa Suspension for Pakistan Citizens Linked to Security and Document Fraud Concerns

The United Arab Emirates has effectively halted new visa approvals for Pakistani nationals. This unofficial suspension stems from serious security concerns raised by Emirati authorities. The issue was formally acknowledged by a senior Pakistani official in a recent senate committee meeting.According to Dawn, the move is a direct response to instances of Pakistani travellers engaging in criminal activities. The UAE has also intensified scrutiny of educational and professional documents submitted by applicants.

UAE Visa Suspension Driven by Document Scrutiny

The visa restrictions have been building for months. Pakistani travellers began reporting widespread rejections as early as July. Former Pakistani ambassador to the UAE, Faisal Niaz Tirmizi, described the situation as serious.He confirmed Emirati authorities have raised red flags over Pakistani educational certificates. The UAE now employs advanced AI-based systems to verify the authenticity of all credentials. Even genuine documents can be rejected if the required attestation is found inadequate.This heightened scrutiny has created an effective, though informal, visa freeze. The halt primarily affects ordinary passport holders from Pakistan. Diplomatic and official passport holders are reportedly not facing the same restrictions.

Concerns Over Criminal Activities Prompt Policy Shift

The core reason for the suspension is security-related. During a briefing, Pakistan’s Additional Interior Secretary Salman Chaudhry stated the UAE acted over concerns about applicants “getting involved in criminal activities”. This was reported by Dawn during a Senate Functional Committee on Human Rights session.The UAE and Saudi Arabia are both exercising extreme caution. Both nations have come close to formally banning the Pakistani passport. Instead, they have opted to drastically tighten visa approvals for most applicants.This policy shift follows repeated cases where Pakistani nationals were implicated in unlawful acts within the UAE. The pattern prompted the Emirati government to restrict access while it assesses the overall situation. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has raised the issue with UAE officials, but a resolution remains pending.

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The ongoing UAE visa suspension for Pakistani citizens highlights growing international concerns over document verification and cross-border security. This development significantly impacts travel, business, and family connections between the two nations, with no immediate solution in sight.

Thought you’d like to know

Why has the UAE stopped issuing visas to Pakistanis?

The primary reasons are security concerns and document fraud. UAE authorities cited instances of criminal activities and questioned the authenticity of many applicants’ educational credentials.

Is this a formal, official ban on Pakistani passports?

No, it is an informal suspension. The UAE has not announced an official ban but has effectively stopped approving most new visa applications from ordinary Pakistani passport holders.

Are all types of Pakistani passports affected?

No. The suspension mainly targets holders of ordinary green passports. Diplomatic and official blue passport holders are generally still able to secure visas for travel.

What is being done to resolve this issue?

Pakistani officials have raised the matter with their UAE counterparts. However, a clear timeline for resuming normal visa services has not been established, and the restrictions remain in place.

When did these visa restrictions begin?

Widespread reports of visa rejections began emerging around July of this year. The situation was formally acknowledged by Pakistani authorities in a recent Senate committee meeting.