🇦🇪 UAE Halts Visas for Pakistanis Over ‘Surge in Crime and Begging Rackets’
Gulf States Crack Down on Misuse of Visit Visas; Islamabad Warned of Near-Ban on Pakistani Passports
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has unofficially halted the issuance of most categories of new visas for Pakistani citizens, a move directly linked to heightened security concerns over individuals engaging in unlawful activities. This diplomatic development, confirmed by Pakistan’s Interior Ministry officials to the Senate Functional Committee on Human Rights, reveals the seriousness of the situation. The abrupt UAE Pakistan Visa Halt is impacting hundreds of thousands of job seekers and families across the country.
The Core Reason: Crime and Visa Misuse
The restrictions—affecting tourist, visit, and employment visas—stem from persistent concerns raised by Emirati authorities regarding the misuse of visit visas for illegal purposes. Key drivers for the UAE Pakistan Visa Halt include:
- Organised Begging Rackets: Authorities in major UAE cities like Dubai and Abu Dhabi, as well as in Saudi Arabia’s holy cities, have cracked down on sophisticated begging rings involving Pakistani nationals who enter on tourist visas. Saudi Arabia recently deported over 5,000 Pakistani beggars.
- Street Crime and Drug Trafficking: Reports indicate a surge in arrests involving Pakistani nationals in cases related to minor street crimes, drug smuggling, and violent offences.
- Overstaying: Misuse of visit permits to overstay and seek irregular employment has also been a long-standing issue cited by Gulf nations.
Diplomatic Warnings and Economic Fallout
Pakistani officials disclosed during the Senate meeting that the UAE and Saudi Arabia had come close to imposing a full, formal ban on the Pakistani passport. Additional Interior Secretary Salman Chaudhry warned lawmakers that reversing an outright ban would be “extremely difficult.”
The UAE Pakistan Visa Halt poses a significant economic threat to Pakistan. The UAE is a crucial destination for Pakistani workers, with over $800,000$ Pakistanis applying for visas to the Gulf annually. Any prolonged restriction directly impacts the flow of vital remittances, which are essential for stabilizing Pakistan’s fragile foreign reserves. Islamabad is currently engaged in quiet diplomatic efforts to resolve the crisis and prevent the restriction from hardening into a permanent ban.