The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has confirmed that there is no official visa ban against Pakistani citizens, informed Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry (MOFA) National Assembly in a letter, local media reported on Thursday.
In response to a request from Legislator Dr. Nafisa Shah, the ministry declared that the UAE Ambassad in Islamabad had clarified the matter. According to the Embassy, UAES Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port of Port has introduced a new five-year visa policy with additional demands.
According to the revised policy, applicants must provide tickets for tour returns, hotel bookings, proof of property ownership (if applicable) and a payment of 3,000 Emirati Dirhams (AED).
The ministry noted that although there is no formal ban, several factors have contributed to increased control of Pakistani applicants.
These include cases of individuals who submit false degrees, false employment contracts and events with visa overages. Some Pakistani citizens have also been implicated in political and criminal activities.
In addition, the UAE authorities have expressed concern about the abuse of social media by certain members of the Pakistani society.
The Pakistani Embassy in Abu Dhabi has been engaging with UAE officials at the ministerial and under-secretary level to tackle these issues. High -ranking officials from Mofas Middle East -Division have also raised the case with the UAE Ambassad in Islamabad.
To facilitate smoother visa processing, the Ministry has shared the letters of recommendation with the UAE ambassment in Islamabad. The Emirati authorities have repeated that there is no official limitation of Pakistani applicants.
