DUBAI/LAHORE: The United Arab Emirates has eased the issuance of visit visas for Pakistani nationals, bringing relief to thousands of families and travellers after months of uncertainty and delays.
Travel agents across Pakistan have confirmed that visit visas are now being issued relatively smoothly to ordinary passport holders applying through registered travel agencies, with a notably higher and faster approval rate for those travelling with family or visiting loved ones in the UAE.
The UAE is home to around 1.8 million Pakistanis and remains one of the largest sources of remittances for Pakistan. While Pakistani applicants faced stringent checks and prolonged delays in recent months, both Pakistan and the UAE have consistently maintained that no formal visa ban was ever imposed.
Signs of Recovery in Travel
According to immigration officials, the daily number of passengers travelling from Pakistan to Dubai, which had dropped to around 170 at the beginning of summer, has risen to approximately 400 by the last week of July.
Muhammad Nadeem Sharif, CEO of Aroma Travels and former Chairman of the Travel Agents Association of Pakistan (TAAP), welcomed the development, stating that the resumption of family visit visas is a positive step. He added that tourism promotion activities have also resumed and passenger traffic, which had declined in recent months, is gradually recovering.
Muhammad Hanif Winch, an official of TAAP, also confirmed the improvement, noting that the situation has improved significantly since last week, with a large number of visa applications for families being approved.
An official from the UAE Embassy in Pakistan confirmed that visit visas are being issued to Pakistani citizens with ordinary passports through registered travel agencies, adding that while security-related verifications may occasionally cause delays, applicants with complete documentation can now apply without major hurdles.
It may be recalled that last year, Pakistan and the UAE had agreed on measures to facilitate visa issuance. The Foreign Office had earlier stated that Emirati authorities had tightened their vetting process due to concerns over fake educational certificates, fictitious employment contracts, criminal activities involving some individuals, and misuse of social media.
