Just hours after Pakistani officials claimed a visa freeze, a spokesperson at the UAE Embassy in Islamabad told Khaleej Times on 27 November that “there is no ban on visas for Pakistani citizens.” The diplomat said applications continue to be assessed under normal security and eligibility criteria, adding that rumours of a categorical halt are “incorrect and exaggerated.”
The swift rebuttal underscores the opaque nature of Gulf visa governance, where consular posts sometimes implement unpublished directives that differ by passport category, profession or even travel history. Travel agencies contacted in Karachi confirm higher rejection rates but report sporadic approvals for highly-skilled workers and immediate family members of UAE residents.
![UAE embassy in Islamabad denies ‘blanket’ visa ban for Pakistanis]()
Employers are caught in the middle. Construction firms with Pakistani engineers in their manpower plans have split application batches across UAE and Qatari projects to hedge against uncertainty. Multinationals advise transferees to build extra lead-time into mobilisation schedules and to keep scanned police-clearance certificates on hand, a document now frequently requested during vetting.
Policy watchers note that the denial may be a calibrated diplomatic message: Gulf governments often avoid the politically loaded term “ban,” preferring flexible administrative ‘caps’ that can be eased once bilateral discussions progress. With a GCC ministers’ summit due in December, both sides have incentives to de-escalate the narrative.
Until clarity emerges, Pakistani travellers are urged to use accredited typing centres, double-check profession codes on their applications and—where possible—secure invitation letters from UAE-based sponsors detailing salary and accommodation arrangements.
The swift rebuttal underscores the opaque nature of Gulf visa governance, where consular posts sometimes implement unpublished directives that differ by passport category, profession or even travel history. Travel agencies contacted in Karachi confirm higher rejection rates but report sporadic approvals for highly-skilled workers and immediate family members of UAE residents.
Employers are caught in the middle. Construction firms with Pakistani engineers in their manpower plans have split application batches across UAE and Qatari projects to hedge against uncertainty. Multinationals advise transferees to build extra lead-time into mobilisation schedules and to keep scanned police-clearance certificates on hand, a document now frequently requested during vetting.
Policy watchers note that the denial may be a calibrated diplomatic message: Gulf governments often avoid the politically loaded term “ban,” preferring flexible administrative ‘caps’ that can be eased once bilateral discussions progress. With a GCC ministers’ summit due in December, both sides have incentives to de-escalate the narrative.
Until clarity emerges, Pakistani travellers are urged to use accredited typing centres, double-check profession codes on their applications and—where possible—secure invitation letters from UAE-based sponsors detailing salary and accommodation arrangements.
