Dr. Bakheet Ateeq Al Remeithi, the Consul General of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in Karachi, has confirmed that social media activity by Pakistani citizens could result in UAE visa rejections.
“Regardless of the platform you use, whether in Pakistan or the UAE, whatever you share or like leaves a digital footprint. These actions, whether positive or negative, can lead to a ban or visa rejection,” he said during an appearance on Geo News on Monday.
Linking visa issuance to social media activity, the diplomat confirmed that UAE authorities do indeed scrutinize and assess visa applicants’ social media presence. He advised people to be cautious about their digital footprint, as each individual represents their country.
The consul general’s comments follow his clarification last week, where he denied rumors that the UAE was imposing restrictions on issuing visas to Pakistanis, particularly those from Sindh.
Dr. Al Remeithi also revealed that several Pakistanis had been arrested in the UAE, with five individuals sentenced to 14 to 15 years in prison. The Gulf nation has cautioned Pakistani expatriates against spreading propaganda against their country, its institutions, or politicians.
Dr. Al Remeithi emphasized that the UAE government discourages individuals from bringing their home country’s issues and politics into the UAE. He reiterated that the government has made efforts to raise awareness among the Pakistani community about the importance of being mindful of these matters.
