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Business Standard
20-05-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
Pakistan joins India in UAE's 5-year multiple-entry tourist visa list
Pakistani nationals can now apply for the UAE's five-year multiple-entry tourist visa, over a year after the facility was made available to Indian travellers, the UAE's ambassador to Pakistan announced on May 14, 2025. 'Visa issues have been resolved; Pakistanis can get a five-year visa,' said Hamad Obaid Ibrahim Salem Al Zaabi, UAE ambassador to Pakistan, during a meeting at the Governor House in Lahore. The five-year tourist visa allows holders to enter the UAE multiple times from the date of issue without needing a local sponsor or host, according to the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs in Dubai. Tourists planning a visit to the UAE can choose from several visa options: Single-entry tourist visas (valid for 30 or 60 days) Multiple-entry tourist visas (valid for 30 or 60 days) Five-year multiple-entry tourist visa Transit visas (valid for 48 or 96 hours) Visa-on-arrival for eligible nationalities or valid visa/residency holders from certain countries Scrutiny and prior restrictions on Pakistanis The development follows increased scrutiny of Pakistani travellers in recent months. On December 23, 2024, a Senate panel was informed that all Pakistanis travelling to the UAE were required to undergo police verification. Travel agents had also received instructions in this regard, Dawn reported. Later, on January 9, 2025, the Senate Standing Committee on Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development was told there were 'no restrictions on work visas' for Pakistani nationals, though UAE authorities had concerns over those entering on visit visas. The panel was informed that some Pakistani visitors had taken to begging in the UAE, leading to unofficial visa delays. In a separate interview with Geo News in November 2024, UAE's consul-general in Karachi, Dr Bakheet Ateeq Alremeithi, suggested that rejections could be linked to social media activity by applicants. India remains UAE's top visitor market The five-year visa was opened up to Indian nationals over a year earlier and remains a key part of UAE's travel policy for one of its largest tourism markets. In 2023, Dubai welcomed 2.46 million Indian overnight visitors, up from 1.84 million in 2022, according to UAE's Department of Economy and Tourism (DET). In 2024, that number stood at 2.2 million. Separately, in February 2025, the UAE expanded its visa-on-arrival policy for Indian passport holders who also possess valid visas or residence permits from: Australia Canada Japan New Zealand Singapore South Korea This builds on the earlier 2024 rule allowing Indian nationals with valid US visit visas, US Green Cards, or UK and EU residence visas to enter the UAE on arrival, provided those visas are valid for at least six months at the time of arrival. The policy applies across all UAE entry points, including Dubai International Airport and Al Maktoum International Airport.
Arab Times
12-04-2025
- Politics
- Arab Times
Pakistanis Now Eligible for UAE's Five-Year Multiple-Entry Tourist Visa
DUBAI, April 12: UAE Ambassador to Pakistan, Hamad Obaid Ibrahim Salem Al Zaabi, stated that Pakistani citizens are now eligible for a five-year multiple-entry tourist visa following the resolution of previous issues. According to the official website of Dubai's General Directorate of Identity and Foreigners Affairs, the five-year multiple-entry visa allows individuals to enter the UAE multiple times from the date of issuance without the need for a guarantor or local host. This development was revealed during a meeting between Ambassador Al Zaabi and Sindh Governor Kamran Khan Tessori at the Governor's House, as reported by Dawn. 'Visa issues have been resolved; Pakistanis can now obtain a five-year visa,' Al Zaabi stated in a press release from the Governor House. He also invited the governor to visit the visa center at the UAE consulate in Karachi. Governor Tessori expressed his gratitude to the UAE envoy for the country's investments in Sindh, particularly in Karachi. In response, the ambassador commended various development projects being implemented under the governor's initiatives. Meanwhile, reports indicate that the UAE has recently intensified scrutiny of Pakistani nationals entering the country due to concerns about their alleged involvement in criminal activities, including begging. On December 23, a Senate committee was informed that all Pakistani travelers to the UAE must be vetted and verified by local police, with travel agents receiving related instructions. At another Senate meeting held on January 9, the Standing Committee on Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development clarified that there were no official restrictions on work visas for Pakistanis traveling to the UAE. However, it was noted that visit visas had been 'unofficially suspended' over concerns that some visitors were misusing them. In a separate interview with Geo News in November, UAE Consul-General in Karachi, Dr. Bakheet Ateeq Alremeithi, suggested that some visa rejections may be linked to inappropriate behavior on social media by certain Pakistani influencers, particularly on platforms like TikTok. He explained that such conduct has drawn criticism from the UAE authorities and led to tighter visa controls, though he emphasized that there is no official ban on issuing visas to Pakistanis.
Khaleej Times
09-04-2025
- Business
- Khaleej Times
UAE-Pakistan flights: Etihad Airways announces new route to Peshawar
UAE's flagship carrier Etihad Airways is expanding its global network further with the launch of flights to Peshawar, Pakistan, starting on September 29, 2025. The new route will connect Zayed International Airport, Abu Dhabi with Bacha Khan International Airport in Peshawar. Peshawar joins Karachi, Islamabad and Lahore as Etihad's fourth non-stop route to Pakistan. Etihad will operate the route using its modern Airbus A320 family aircraft, featuring eight seats in Business Class and 150 in Economy. Initially operating five times a week, daily flights will begin on November 22, 2025. Pakistanis can now avail of a five-year multiple-entry tourist visa after the resolution of existing issues, UAE Ambassador to Pakistan Hamad Obaid Ibrahim Salem Al Zaabi had announced on Tuesday, a Dawn report said. "We are thrilled to further expand our presence in Pakistan with the launch of our daily service between Abu Dhabi and Peshawar. This new route reflects our commitment to providing vital connectivity for travellers between Pakistan and the Gulf, Africa, Europe, and North America. In addition to new flights to Peshawar, we are boosting our frequency to Karachi to 17 flights a week from 1 October," Antonoaldo Neves, Chief Executive Officer of Etihad Airways, said. This expansion follows the recent addition of Addis Ababa to Etihad's network and marks the airline's 16th new destination in 2025. Alongside Peshawar, Etihad has announced new routes to Prague, Warsaw, Algiers, Tunis, and Atlanta, while also increasing frequencies to key European cities, including Paris, Milan, Manchester, Frankfurt, Zurich, and Madrid.
Hi Dubai
09-04-2025
- Politics
- Hi Dubai
UAE Resumes Five-Year Multiple-Entry Tourist Visas for Pakistanis
In a significant diplomatic development, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has reinstated five-year multiple-entry tourist visas for Pakistani nationals, following the resolution of earlier concerns that had led to tightened entry requirements. The announcement was made by UAE Ambassador to Pakistan, Hamad Obaid Ibrahim Salem Al Zaabi, during a meeting with Sindh Governor Kamran Khan Tessori at the Governor's House. "Visa issues have been resolved, Pakistanis can get a five-year visa," Zaabi stated, according to an official press release. The visa, according to the UAE's General Directorate of Identity and Foreigners Affairs, allows individuals to make several trips to the country over five years without the need for a local guarantor or host. This move is expected to boost tourism and people-to-people ties between the two nations. Ambassador Zaabi also extended an invitation to Governor Tessori to visit the UAE visa centre in Karachi. The governor, in turn, expressed gratitude for the UAE's continued investment in Sindh, particularly in Karachi, and appreciated the ambassador's recognition of ongoing provincial development projects. The announcement comes after months of scrutiny and unofficial restrictions that had affected Pakistani travellers. Increased concerns over the misuse of visit visas, including involvement in unlawful activities such as begging, prompted UAE authorities to vet all Pakistani visitors more rigorously. A Senate panel in Pakistan was informed in December that police verification had become mandatory for all Pakistanis traveling to the UAE, with travel agents instructed accordingly. Despite these concerns, UAE officials have consistently maintained that there is no formal ban on visas for Pakistanis. In an interview with Geo News in November last year, UAE's Consul-General in Karachi, Dr Bakheet Ateeq Alremeithi, acknowledged that visa rejections may be linked to negative social media behavior by some Pakistani influencers, especially on platforms like TikTok, which reportedly displeased Emirati authorities. However, during a Senate committee session in January, it was clarified that there were 'no restrictions on work visas' for Pakistanis, although visit visa approvals had seen unofficial delays due to the UAE's reservations. With the announcement of the reinstated five-year multiple-entry visa, the UAE appears to be easing those restrictions and restoring travel opportunities for Pakistani nationals, while still emphasizing the importance of responsible behavior and compliance with host country regulations. The development is being seen as a positive step forward in strengthening UAE-Pakistan bilateral relations and fostering greater mobility between the two nations. News Source: Khaleej Times
Khaleej Times
08-04-2025
- Politics
- Khaleej Times
UAE: Pakistanis can now avail 5-year multiple-entry visas
Pakistanis can now avail a five-year multiple-entry tourist visas after the resolution of existing issues, UAE Ambassador to Pakistan Hamad Obaid Ibrahim Salem Al Zaabi announced on Tuesday. According to the website of Dubai's General Directorate of Identity and Foreigners Affairs, the country issues multiple-entry tourist visas for five years. The visa allows a person to make several trips to the UAE from the date of issue, without needing a guarantor or a host within the country. The development came during a meeting between Zaabi and Sindh Governor Karmran Khan Tessori at the Governor's House, a Dawn report said. 'Visa issues have been resolved, Pakistanis can get a five-year visa,' Zaabi was quoted as saying in a press release from the Governor House. He also invited the governor to visit the visa centre at the Karachi consulate. Tessori thanked the UAE diplomat for his country's investment in the province, especially in Karachi. The ambassador praised ongoing projects under the governor's initiative, the report said. According to reports, the UAE authorities have lately increased the scrutiny of Pakistanis arriving in the country due to their alleged involvement in crime and unlawful activities, like begging. On December 23, a Senate panel was informed that all Pakistani travellers to the UAE needed to be vetted and verified by the police. Travel agents were also instructed in this regard, Dawn said. In another meeting on January 9, the Senate Standing Committee on Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development was told that there were 'no restrictions on work visas' for Pakistanis travelling to the UAE. It further learnt that visas to the UAE had been 'unofficially closed' and its government had reservations that Pakistanis, on visit visas, resort to begging in the country, Dawn said in its report. On the other hand, during an interview with Geo News in November last year, the Consul-General of UAE in Karachi, Dr Bakheet Ateeq Alremeithi, revealed that Pakistanis may be facing visa rejections due to negative social media activities. Alremeithi also stated that there had been complaints regarding the conduct of certain Pakistani social media influencers in the UAE, especially on platforms such as TikTok, resulting in dissatisfaction from the UAE government and prompting stricter visa regulations that have raised concerns for Pakistani travellers. He also clarified that there was no ban on UAE visas for Pakistani nationals.
