Pakistanis now eligible for 5-year UAE multiple-entry visa
UAE now issues long-term visas without sponsor or host requirement
DUBAI: In a significant development for cross-border travel and tourism, Pakistanis are now eligible to apply for a five-year multiple-entry tourist visa to the United Arab Emirates.
This was announced by the UAE Ambassador to Pakistan, Hamad Obaid Ibrahim Salem Al Zaabi, according to a DAWN report, during a meeting with Sindh Governor Kamran Khan Tessori at the Governor’s House earlier this week. The announcement marks a breakthrough following months of diplomatic discussions and clarifications over visa policies for Pakistani nationals.
According to the official website of Dubai’s General Directorate of Identity and Foreigners Affairs, this multiple-entry tourist visa is valid for five years and allows holders to make numerous trips to the UAE from the date of issuance. Importantly, the visa does not require a local guarantor or host, easing travel procedures for Pakistanis planning family visits, holidays, or business trips.
The decision was shared publicly during the UAE envoy's visit to Karachi. "Visa issues have been resolved; Pakistanis can get a five-year visa," Al Zaabi was quoted as saying in a press release from the Governor House. He extended an invitation to the governor to visit the visa centre at the UAE Consulate in Karachi, highlighting the UAE's commitment to streamlining access for Pakistani nationals.
Governor Tessori expressed gratitude to the ambassador for UAE’s continued investments in Sindh, particularly in Karachi. The envoy also commended various infrastructure and development projects initiated under the governor’s leadership.
Heightened scrutiny
This announcement comes on the heels of increased scrutiny by UAE immigration authorities targeting travellers from Pakistan. Reports emerged in late 2024 of rising concerns over unlawful activities, including incidents of begging by individuals who had entered the UAE on tourist visas. On 23 December, a Senate panel in Islamabad was informed that all Pakistani visitors to the UAE must undergo police verification before travel. Travel agents were simultaneously instructed to ensure compliance with vetting requirements.
Despite this, no official ban on Pakistani visa applications was ever in place. During a media briefing in November, UAE Consul-General in Karachi, Dr Bakheet Ateeq Alremeithi, clarified that visa rejections were likely the result of inappropriate social media behaviour by certain Pakistani influencers. Platforms like TikTok, he noted, had prompted dissatisfaction among UAE authorities due to content that violated the country's cultural norms.
While stricter regulations were implemented, Alremeithi reaffirmed that there were no formal restrictions or bans on UAE visas for Pakistanis. “Whoever wants to get a visa should come to the UAE visa centre,” he advised, urging applicants to follow official procedures.
Skilled workforce demand
Parallel to visa developments, Pakistani officials have also acknowledged the evolving employment landscape in the Gulf nation. Pakistan’s Ambassador to the UAE, Faisal Niaz Tirmizi, recently underscored the growing demand for highly-skilled professionals across sectors such as IT, artificial intelligence, healthcare, aviation, and finance. “We now need to train our people in fields like accounting, AI, and banking,” he remarked during an interview in February.
The UAE is shifting away from importing low-skilled labour, with a clear focus on attracting a competent and specialised workforce. Skilled Pakistani professionals can now command monthly salaries upwards of Dh20,000, in stark contrast to the Dh1,000 received by unskilled workers. This shift presents a promising avenue for Pakistan’s youth, provided proper training is prioritised.
Tackling travel misuse
Meanwhile, Pakistan has ramped up efforts to curb the misuse of international travel, especially to GCC countries. During a January luncheon hosted by the Pakistan Business Council in Dubai, Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan detailed enhanced border control measures to restrict the movement of “dubious passengers.” These include strict documentation checks and validation of travel purposes, accommodation bookings, and financial means before departure.
Minister Kamal Khan explained that immigration authorities are now required to verify employment letters, travel itineraries, and bank statements to ensure passengers are not travelling under false pretences. These actions aim to prevent instances where individuals pose as tourists but end up participating in activities that harm Pakistan’s image abroad.
A core focus of the government’s plan is training prospective overseas workers. Tailored programmes have been introduced to educate individuals on cultural norms, legal expectations, and workplace practices in countries like the UAE. The objective is to minimise incidents of miscommunication or law violations among Pakistani workers abroad.
Pakistan-UAE relations
The UAE remains one of Pakistan’s strongest economic partners in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, with over 64,000 Pakistanis receiving UAE work visas in 2024 alone. Additionally, remittances from the UAE to Pakistan rose by an impressive 53 percent in the past six months, amounting to $4.5 billion. Officials project the total will surpass $9 billion by June 2025.