‘Treated Like Criminal': Pakistani Man Alleges Georgia Denied Him Entry Despite Valid UAE Residency

News18

18 hours ago

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Georgia permits visa-free entry to UAE citizens and allows UAE residency holders to stay for up to 90 days.
A Pakistani national with valid UAE residency alleged he was denied entry into Georgia without explanation, despite carrying all necessary documents. In a viral Reddit post, the traveller recounted being detained for over 12 hours in what he described as a 'prison-like" room at Kutaisi Airport, where he claims he was humiliated and mistreated by immigration officials.
Georgia permits visa-free entry to UAE citizens and allows UAE residency holders to stay for up to 90 days. The man, who had planned a short vacation to the country with a friend, shared his experience, saying, 'We flew in from Abu Dhabi to Kutaisi on Wizz Air. We had our hotel bookings, return tickets, travel insurance — everything in order. But as soon as we said we were Pakistani nationals, the officers pulled us aside."
According to the post, immigration officers took their passports and photographed them in front of other passengers. The two travellers were then taken to a separate room and denied basic information.
'When we asked why we were being held, one officer just said: 'We cannot tell you,'" the man claimed, adding, 'No reason, no documentation, no violation — just a vague statement and dismissive attitude."
He said they were detained for over 12 hours in a locked room with no access to proper food, clean water, or a sanitary bathroom. 'It was like a prison," he wrote, adding that efforts to contact the UAE or Pakistani embassies were met with hostility. 'They tried to snatch our phones when they saw me trying to call the embassy."
The man also shared that he holds a senior position in Abu Dhabi, has no criminal record, and possesses a strong travel history. 'We were not misbehaving. Our paperwork was complete. Still, we were treated like criminals," he wrote.
'The loss isn't just financial," he continued, referring to expenses on flights, accommodation, insurance, and rental cars, adding, 'It's the psychological toll — the humiliation, the anxiety, and the sheer helplessness."
He concluded his post by calling out the officers' behaviour as 'rude, racist, and unjust," saying, 'We feel dehumanised. We will never forget this."
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Mallika Soni
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Georgia
First Published:
June 06, 2025, 21:59 IST