The internet has been flooded with rumours that United Arab Emirates (UAE) has suspended the visa services for Pakistani passport holders. But is it true?
According to notices displayed on the VFS Global portal for Emirates visa services, the UAE has temporarily stopped issuing 48-hour and 96-hour transit visas to Pakistani nationals.
This change directly impacts passengers who plan layovers in UAE airports, such as those in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, and wish to leave the airport premises during their stopover.
These short-term transit visas were previously popular among travellers on long-haul international flights. They enabled brief exits from the airport to stay in hotels, attend business meetings, explore tourist attractions, or handle personal matters before continuing to their final destination.
Restrictions
Travel industry sources revealed that the measure targets only the transit visa categories (48-hour and 96-hour). There has been no official statement confirming whether other visa types such as tourist, visit, employment, or residence visas for Pakistani citizens, are affected by this specific action.
Authorities have not yet released an official explanation for the decision or indicated how long the suspension will remain in place.
Advice for Travellers
In light of the update, travel agents and experts are urging Pakistani passengers to verify current entry requirements directly with their airlines or official UAE immigration channels before booking flights that involve stopovers in the Emirates.
Airlines operating routes between Pakistan and the UAE are also providing the latest information on boarding and entry rules to help prevent any last-minute disruptions or issues at the airport.
Travellers are encouraged to plan accordingly and monitor updates from reliable sources, as visa policies can change without prior notice.
UAE visit visas ban
In November 2025, similar rumours took the internet by storm after Pakistan’s Senate committee was told that the UAE was not issuing visas to Pakistanis.
As per details, Additional Interior Secretary Salman Chaudhry told Senate Functional Committee on Human Rights that the Pakistani passport narrowly escaped a ban from the UAE and Saudi Arabia.”
He informed the Senate that if a ban is imposed, it would be tough to lift it. He stated that the UAE was issuing visas only to blue passport and diplomatic passport holders.
The Senate committee was told that the interior ministry had digitally obtained the data of 180 million to 200 million Pakistanis to prevent any misuse or irregularities in passport issuance. “Records of all citizens are available, and verification is done immediately,” he added.
UAE Envoy clears the air
UAE envoy has addressed the rumours and rejected reports claiming that Pakistanis are being denied visas, saying that the consulate has seen record numbers of visa applications in recent weeks.
“Every type of visa is being processed, and reports of a ban are completely false,” said UAE Consul General in Karachi, Bakheet Ateeq Alremeithi while speaking to private media outlet.
He said that the visa section at the Karachi consulate is experiencing an unprecedented rush for all categories of visas, and some types now require advance booking exceeding one month. The surge marks the highest level of visa demand the consulate has seen in the past three years.
UAE to resume work visas for Pakistanis soon
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) earlier announced that work visas for Pakistani nationals will soon resume. The preparations are already in the final stages, according to the details.
The United Arab Emirates has announced that work visas for Pakistani nationals will soon be restored. Additionally, all necessary preparations are now in their final stages.
The announcement was made by UAE Ambassador Salem Al-Zabi during a meeting with a delegation from the Pakistan Overseas Employment Promoters Association (POEPA).
The delegation was led by POEPA Chairman Syed Rehmat Ali Shah. It also included Secretary General Mumtaz Siddiq, the former Chairman Syed Habib Ali Shah, and other executive members.
Ambassador Al-Zabi praised the skills and professionalism of Pakistani workers. And highlighted their significant contribution to the UAE’s development.
He described the relationship between Pakistan and the UAE as historical and fraternal. Further, he said that Pakistani labour has played a vital role in the progress of the Emirates.
