Frustrated Pakistani Businessmen Look For Alternatives Amid Dubai’s Visa Fiasco

Pakistani businessmen have been left stranded after their visas for Dubai are being rejected repeatedly. “Once, the UAE was our second home, but now it seems we have to explore other countries for our business ventures,” commented a Karachi based trader. 

The Dubai Visa Fiasco reached its peak when mass visas were rejected for IT Businessmen wanting to travel to attend GiTex Global. The event, which hosted IT professionals from over 180 countries, presented a great opportunity for entrepreneurs to create valuable networks and engage in across-the-border business activities. Consequently, Pakistani businessmen are now reported to explore other destinations such as Bangkok, Istanbul, and Doha, for their business ventures as the UAE tightens its visa policies During a press interaction at GITEX Global 2024, Ambassador to the UAE, Faisal Niaz Tirmizi, acknowledged the challenges faced by Pakistanis in attaining UAE visas. He admitted that although there has been “some improvement, but not a lot.”

According to sources, the tightening of visa rules is part of Dubai’s broader efforts to diversify its economy and focus on highly skilled professionals. “Blue-collar workers built this country, but the UAE has reached a different level of development,” said Ambassador Tirmizi. On the contrary, the hypocrisy of UAE authorities is evident, as they are reportedly offering a visa-on-arrival policy to certain Indian citizens especially with valid Shenghen or UK Visa, a facility never offered to Pakistanis. 

Pakistan’s Bureau of Emigration & Overseas Employment data shows that a total of 229,894 workers were registered with the UAE during 2023 but the number dropped drastically to under 60,000 this year. If this trend persists, the annual number of Pakistani workers registered for employment in the UAE could reach its lowest level on record. The rejection of visit visas has further aggravated the situation for regular visitors, especially businessmen.

The tightening of the UAE’s visa policies is causing concern among Pakistani entrepreneurs and workers, who have long relied on the Gulf nation for opportunities. While the UAE continues to position itself as a global business hub, these restrictive measures risk alienating key foreign markets like Pakistan, which has remained a significant contributor to the UAE’s business and tourist ecosystem. 

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