Pakistanis can now apply for the UAE’s five-year multiple-entry tourist visa, following the resolution of past issues.
The announcement was made by UAE Ambassador to Pakistan, Hamad Obaid Ibrahim Salem Al Zaabi, on Tuesday. According to the UAE’s immigration website, this visa allows unlimited entries within five years from the date of issue. Moreover, applicants do not need a local sponsor or host in the UAE to apply for this visa.
This major development was shared during a meeting between Ambassador Al Zaabi and Sindh Governor Kamran Khan Tessori. The meeting took place at the Governor’s House in Karachi, as reported by Dawn. “Visa issues have been resolved. Pakistanis can now obtain a five-year visa,” said Al Zaabi in a press release.
He also invited the governor to visit the UAE visa centre located at the Karachi consulate for further coordination. In response, Governor Tessori thanked the UAE for its investments in Sindh, especially in various projects across Karachi.
Furthermore, the ambassador praised the progress of development initiatives launched under the governor’s leadership.
Visa Scrutiny and Background
In recent months, the UAE had tightened checks on Pakistani visitors due to increasing concerns over unlawful activities. On December 23, a Senate panel in Pakistan was informed of mandatory police verification for travellers going to the UAE. Additionally, travel agents were instructed to follow strict procedures for documentation and background checks.
Earlier reports had mentioned that Pakistani visitors were allegedly involved in begging and other illegal acts. However, in a Senate committee meeting on January 9, officials clarified there were no restrictions on UAE work visas.
They did mention that the UAE had “unofficially paused” some visa categories due to misuse of visit visas.
Social Media Conduct Causing Issues
In a November interview with Geo News, UAE Consul-General Dr Bakheet Ateeq Alremeithi explained another reason behind rejections. He said many visa applications were affected due to negative behavior on social media, especially on TikTok. According to him, some Pakistani influencers had posted objectionable content, which angered UAE citizens and authorities.
As a result, visa scrutiny became stricter, although there was no formal ban on Pakistani applicants. Dr Alremeithi clarified that the UAE values its relationship with Pakistan and aims to maintain mutual respect.
