Pakistanis Now Eligible for Five-Year UAE Visas: Strengthening Bilateral Ties

In a significant step towards strengthening the relationship between Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Pakistani nationals will now be eligible for five-year visas to the UAE. The announcement was made by UAE Ambassador Hamad Obaid Al Zaabi during a meeting with Sindh Governor Kamran Khan Tessori at the Governor House in Karachi on Tuesday.

The UAE Consul General, Bakheet Ateeq Al Remeithi, was also present at the meeting, which highlighted the growing bilateral ties between the two nations. Governor Tessori expressed his gratitude towards the UAE for its investment in Sindh and Karachi, emphasizing the strengthening of diplomatic and economic relationships between the countries.

Ambassador Al Zaabi extended an invitation to Governor Tessori to visit the UAE visa center established in Karachi. He commended the initiatives launched by the governor and voiced his support for development efforts aimed at enhancing cooperation between the two countries.

During the visit, Ambassador Al Zaabi also participated in the plantation campaign by planting a tree at the Governor House and attended a flag-hoisting ceremony. These acts symbolized the deepening friendship between the two nations.

The new five-year visa policy was first confirmed by the UAE’s Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs, and Port Security. Applicants for the new visa are required to provide round-trip tickets, hotel bookings, proof of property ownership, and a down payment of AED 3,000. However, the policy comes with stricter scrutiny due to certain incidents involving Pakistani nationals submitting fake degrees, fraudulent employment contracts, and overstaying visas.

Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs had clarified earlier that no official ban on Pakistani visas had been imposed by the UAE, though stricter guidelines have been enforced to ensure the integrity of the application process.

With these developments, both countries look forward to further strengthening their diplomatic and economic ties.