The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has reportedly halted issuance of most new visas to ordinary Pakistani passport holders as of late November 2025. According to officials from Pakistan’s interior ministry, only holders of diplomatic or “blue” passports are currently being issued visas.
The freeze affects tourist, visit, and work-visa categories. This has left thousands of Pakistanis — including migrant workers, families, and students — in limbo. Pakistani lawmakers were told the freeze is linked to repeated incidents of criminal activities involving some Pakistani nationals in the Gulf region.
In this article, we dive deep into the background, the scale of the impact, diplomatic fallout, likely economic consequences, and what future holds for Pakistan–UAE relations.
Background — From Visa Rejections to Official Freeze
Rising Visa Rejections Through 2025
Reports of visa rejections for Pakistanis had increased throughout mid-2025. Many applicants were denied tourist or visit visas, even for short stays, often without clear explanation. Work-visa approvals too became more uncertain.
Overseas employment agencies and migrant-worker recruiters began facing widespread cancellations, refund claims, and mounting appeals from stranded applicants. A large portion of Pakistanis seeking work or short-term travel in the Gulf depend on UAE as a primary destination.
Formal Disclosure: Parliamentary Admission
On November 27, 2025, during a session of the Senate Functional Committee on Human Rights in Islamabad, Pakistan’s Additional Interior Secretary Salman Chaudhry confirmed that the UAE had “stopped issuing visas to most Pakistani nationals.” He stated that only blue (official) and diplomatic passport-holders were being allowed entry at present.
Chaudhry also warned that both the UAE and Saudi Arabia had reportedly considered a full ban on Pakistani passports — a step which, if taken, would be extremely difficult to reverse.
UAE’s Official Position: Denial and Ambiguity
Despite the Senate disclosure, a senior diplomat at the UAE Consulate in Karachi, Bakheet Ateeq Al‑Remeithi, rejected the reports claiming a blanket visa ban. He stated that all categories of visas were still being processed, though he also admitted that demand had surged sharply in recent weeks.
This contradictory narrative — official freeze vs. embassy denial — has added to the confusion, leaving many applicants and migrants uncertain about their travel and employment plans.
Why Did UAE Take This Step?
According to UAE authorities and the Pakistani interior ministry:
- Criminal activities, immigration abuses, overstaying, begging and other unlawful acts committed by some Pakistani nationals had reportedly increased sharply. This was cited as a major reason for curbing visa issuance.
- Fake credentials and documentation irregularities were another problem. Visa applicants, it is claimed, often submitted questionable educational or job-credentials, which raised red flags in background checks.
- Previous warnings and crackdown by Gulf nations: Saudi Arabia had recently deported over 5,000 Pakistani nationals caught begging. Following this, UAE appears to have followed suit by imposing stricter visa controls on Pakistanis.
In effect, the freeze seems to be a security- and image-related response, aimed at curtailing misuse of visas and restoring tighter immigration screening standards.
Impact on Pakistani Expatriates, Migrants and Families
Employment & Remittances at Risk
UAE has long been among the top destinations for Pakistani migrant labor. With regular visa issuance halted, thousands of job-seekers are left stranded in Pakistan. Many labor contractors and recruitment agencies have stopped operations; planned departures have been cancelled, and refund claims are pouring in.
If the freeze extends, a sharp drop in remittances — a key source of foreign exchange for Pakistan — is likely. Given that Gulf remittances play a critical role in stabilizing Pakistan’s economy, the freeze threatens both migrant livelihoods and macroeconomic stability.
Families, Students and Short-Term Travelers Affected
Many Pakistani families travel to UAE for family visits, medical treatment, or short-term business/tourism. With tourist and visit visas on hold, family-based travel is severely disrupted. Students and job-seekers with pending visa applications are in limbo.
Erosion of Pakistani Passport’s Global Reputation
Pakistan’s passport was already ranked among the weakest globally in terms of visa-free access and ease of mobility. The current freeze — especially the blacklist of ordinary passport holders — is likely to further worsen the passport’s standing and future mobility for Pakistanis.
Diplomatic Fallout — Ties Strained, Islamabad Responds
- Pakistani officials and lawmakers have expressed deep concern over what they call a “silent visa ban” or “unofficial freeze,” warning about damaging bilateral relations with the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
- Calls have begun for diplomatic engagement to restore visa channels, especially since Gulf states and Pakistan share strong economic, labor and remittance-linked ties for decades.
- Meanwhile, UAE’s ambiguous stance — issuing visas only to diplomatic or official passport holders while denying ordinary visas — has left room for suspicion and uncertainty. Pakistani migrants now face indefinite waiting periods, uncertainty and hardship.
Several analysts suggest that if the freeze continues long, Gulf nations may further impose stricter immigration policies, which could isolate Pakistan’s outbound labor market from the Gulf economy.
What Lies Ahead — Scenarios & Risks
Scenario 1: Freeze Remains Indefinite
If UAE maintains the freeze — especially amid rising Gulf-wide crackdown on illegal activities — thousands of Pakistani workers may remain stranded. Recruitment agencies may collapse; remittance flows may shrink; Gulf-bound labor migration may shift to other countries (Qatar, Oman, Malaysia etc.). Pakistani economy and families reliant on Gulf remittances will suffer.
Scenario 2: Partial Restoration After Reforms & Strict Screening
If Pakistan undertakes strict reforms — better background checks, policing of bogus documents, crackdown on illegal recruitment, removal of “bad actors” — UAE may resume visas under tighter norms. This requires proactive diplomatic engagement and internal policy changes in Pakistan.
Scenario 3: Full Passport Ban — Worst-case but Possible
Some Gulf countries had reportedly considered banning Pakistani passports outright. If such a formal ban is imposed — as warned by Pakistani officials — it could be near-impossible to reverse. This would isolate an entire nation’s mobility and significantly restrict overseas options for millions.
Broader Risks
- Rise in undocumented migration routes or irregular migration through human-smuggling networks
- Exploitation of existing expatriate Pakistani workers due to limited legal avenues
- Strain on Pakistan’s foreign exchange inflows and remittance-based economy
- Diplomatic strain between Pakistan and Gulf states, affecting trade, labor treaties, and bilateral cooperation
Reactions & Voices: From Islamabad, Media, and Migrants
- Pakistani Senate Committee on Human Rights labeled the freeze as a “serious and significant issue,” demanding immediate diplomatic outreach.
- Migrant workers and families are shocked, many say they feel “betrayed” by decades-old labor ties with the Gulf. Several told media that they had spent money on processing visa applications only to now learn they might never travel.
- Recruitment agents warn of a looming crisis: hundreds of agencies may shut down, thousands of middle-class job-seekers may be left unemployed.
- Some human-rights and migration-watch NGOs have cautioned against blanket restrictions, arguing they penalize ordinary, law-abiding citizens for the actions of a few.
Wider Gulf Context: UAE, Saudi Arabia and Gulf Migration Trends
- The UAE’s decision comes just after similar tightening by Saudi Arabia, which reportedly deported thousands of Pakistani nationals accused of begging or working illegally.
- Gulf countries, facing domestic pressure, economic restructuring, and rising social issues, are increasingly scrutinizing foreign labor and immigration. The crackdown seems targeted not just at security, but at regulating population demographics and job markets.
For Pakistan and other labor-exporting countries, this signals a paradigm shift: Gulf nations may no longer be safe havens for cheap labor migrants without strict screening and compliance.
What Should Pakistani Citizens, Migrants and Policy-Makers Do Now
For Migrants & Applicants
- Avoid applying for UAE visas until official clarity is issued.
- Beware of recruitment agents promising easy visas — many may exploit desperation.
- Explore alternative destinations for work (Gulf or non-Gulf), but ensure legal compliance and documentation.
- Save remittance and support channels; plan for uncertain income scenarios.
For Government & Diplomatic Channels
- Initiate high-level diplomatic outreach with UAE (and Gulf states) to clarify reasons, present evidence of reforms, and seek restoration of visa access.
- Crack down on fake-document syndicates, human-trafficking & illegal recruitment rings — this will improve Pakistan’s image overseas.
- Strengthen domestic employment generation, skill development — to reduce over-reliance on Gulf migration.
For Civil Society & NGOs
- Provide legal aid and counselling to workers stranded or affected by visa freeze.
- Raise awareness about dangers of illegal recruitment, fraudulent job offers, and bogus visa agents.
- Monitor Gulf-migration trends, gather data, and keep pressure on authorities for fair treatment of migrant workers.
Conclusion
The decision by the UAE to freeze issuance of most visas to Pakistani nationals marks a major turning point in Gulf-South Asia migration dynamics. While aimed at curbing misuse and crime, the move has wide ramifications — affecting livelihoods, remittances, migration hopes, and bilateral ties.
If not handled delicately and diplomatically, it could result in a major humanitarian and economic crisis for thousands of Pakistani families dependent on Gulf income.
For Pakistan, this may be a wake-up call: over-dependence on Gulf migration is no longer a reliable economic strategy. Instead, structural reforms, better governance, and diversification — both in economy and overseas employment channels — have become imperative.
Whether the freeze is temporary or a sign of long-term restriction, Gulf migration for Pakistani citizens has entered a new era — marked by caution, scrutiny and uncertainty.
