ISLAMABAD, The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has resumed issuing visit visas to Pakistani citizens applying through registered travel agents, according to travel industry representatives and a UAE Embassy official, signaling an easing of months of uncertainty that had affected travel between the two countries.
The development is expected to facilitate travel for thousands of Pakistanis, particularly families, to one of the country’s most important overseas destinations.
Travel industry officials say the most noticeable improvement has been in family visit visa applications, which are now being processed more smoothly after months of delays.
Muhammad Nadeem Sharif, Former Chairman of the Travel Agents Association of Pakistan (TAAP), said:
“The UAE Embassy has started issuing visit visas to Pakistani tourists traveling with their families, which is a positive development.”
He added that applicants visiting relatives already residing in the UAE are also receiving quicker responses.
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A senior Pakistani immigration official said daily passenger traffic from Pakistan to Dubai has increased significantly.
According to immigration data:
- Earlier this summer: around 170 passengers per day
- Final week of July: around 400 passengers per day
Although the number remains below the approximately 1,000 daily travelers recorded two years ago, officials view the increase as a sign of recovering travel demand.
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Muhammad Hanif Rinch, an office bearer of TAAP, said family applications have seen a marked improvement after years of high rejection rates for individual travelers.
He noted that travelers visiting with families currently account for around 10 percent of Pakistani visitors to the UAE.
A UAE Embassy official in Islamabad confirmed that visit visas are currently available for holders of ordinary Pakistani passports applying through registered travel agencies.
The official said that although processing experienced localized delays earlier because of security considerations, applicants submitting complete documentation can now apply without significant difficulty.
Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry previously informed Parliament that stricter screening procedures were introduced after some applicants submitted forged educational certificates, fake employment contracts, or became involved in legal and political violations while in the UAE.
Officials indicated that these concerns led to enhanced background checks rather than an official visa ban.
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Last year, Pakistan and the UAE also agreed to take steps to facilitate visa issuance following discussions between Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and his Emirati counterpart.
The latest easing is expected to strengthen people-to-people contacts and support tourism, family visits, and business travel between Pakistan and the UAE.
