KARACHI: Pakistani nationals can now apply for five-year visas to the United Arab Emirates, announced UAE Ambassador Hamad Obaid Al Zaabi on Tuesday.
This announcement was made during a meeting between Sindh Governor Kamran Khan Tessori and UAE Ambassador Hamad Obaid Al Zaabi at the Governor House in Karachi, with UAE Consul General Bakheet Ateeq Al Remeithi also in attendance.
Governor Tessori expressed his gratitude to the UAE for its investments, particularly in Sindh and Karachi, and praised the strengthening of bilateral relations between the two nations. During the meeting, Ambassador Al Zaabi extended an invitation to the governor to visit the UAE Visa Centre established in Karachi.
Ambassador Al Zaabi also commended the initiatives launched under Governor Tessori’s leadership, calling them praiseworthy and expressing his support for efforts aimed at fostering development and collaboration.
As part of the visit, Ambassador Al Zaabi participated in a tree plantation campaign at the Governor House and attended a flag-hoisting ceremony. He left a heartfelt message in the guestbook, marking the occasion as a symbol of enduring friendship between Pakistan and the UAE.
In a related development, last month the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) informed the National Assembly that the UAE had confirmed there is no official visa ban on Pakistani nationals. In response to a query from Dr. Nafisa Shah, the ministry stated that the UAE’s Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs, and Port Security had introduced a new five-year visa policy for Pakistani applicants.
The new policy requires applicants to provide round-trip tickets, hotel bookings, proof of property ownership (if applicable), and a down payment of AED 3,000. The Ministry also highlighted that increased scrutiny and restrictions on Pakistani applicants stem from several issues, including the submission of fake degrees and fraudulent employment contracts, instances of overstayed visas, and involvement in political or criminal activities. Concerns were also raised about the inappropriate use of social media by some members of the Pakistani community.
The Pakistan Embassy in Abu Dhabi has addressed these concerns with the UAE authorities at both the ministerial and under-secretary levels.
