Pakistanis can now obtain five-year UAE visas as issues resolved
- Pakistanis now have access to a five-year tourist visa following an announcement by the UAE ambassador.
- This visa allows multiple entries without the need for a host or guarantor in the UAE.
- The resolution of visa issues indicates improved diplomatic relations and economic cooperation between Pakistan and the UAE.
In Pakistan, on April 9, 2025, a significant update regarding visa accessibility for Pakistani nationals was announced during a meeting at the Governor's House in Karachi. The United Arab Emirates’ Ambassador to Pakistan, Hamad Obaid Ibrahim Salem Al-Zaabi, confirmed that the existing visa issues preventing many Pakistanis from obtaining UAE visas had been resolved. This announcement marks a departure from previous restrictions which had caused complications for Pakistani travelers seeking to visit the UAE. The resolution allows citizens of Pakistan to apply for a five-year multiple-entry tourist visa that requires no guarantor or host in the UAE. During the meeting with Sindh Governor Karmran Khan Tessori, Al-Zaabi emphasized the importance of this new opportunity and acknowledged the UAE's ongoing investments in Karachi, particularly under the governor's initiatives. Pakistanis applying for these visas can now travel multiple times to the UAE without stringent conditions that previously hampered their ability to visit the region. Concerns have arisen in recent months, however, about an increase in scrutiny directed at Pakistani travelers by UAE authorities. Reports had indicated a nervousness stemming from incidents involving Pakistani nationals involved in crime and begging during visits to the UAE. In response to these incidents, travel agents were informed of the necessity for enhanced vetting of Pakistani travelers, and representatives from the UAE have indicated that strict measures are in place to ensure compliance with the visa regulations currently in effect. Despite some negative social media portrayals affecting the perception of Pakistani travelers, the UAE Consul General in Karachi, Dr. Bakheet Ateeq Alremeithi, had clarified that there was never an outright ban on UAE visas for Pakistani nationals. The most recent developments signal a progressive step towards easing travel for Pakistanis, fostering better relations between the two countries, and demonstrating the UAE's openness to maintaining its connections with Pakistan amid prior concerns.