Questions about UAE visas for Pakistani passport holders continue to attract attention in Pakistan and across the Pakistani community in the Emirates.
During 2026, travellers have faced a mixture of reports about visa delays, higher scrutiny, improved approval rates and claims circulating online about restrictions. This has made it difficult for many applicants to understand what the current position actually is.
A review by The UAE Time of information published by UAE immigration authorities, Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Pakistan Consulate in Dubai and recent diplomatic reporting shows one important point: Pakistani ordinary passport holders still require a visa before travelling to the UAE, but there is no officially announced blanket ban on UAE visas for Pakistani citizens.
Pakistan is currently listed as a “Visa Required” nationality on the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs visa-exemption database. This means Pakistani ordinary passport holders generally need to obtain the appropriate visa before travelling.
UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs — Visa Requirements by Nationality
At the same time, official UAE immigration portals continue to provide tourist and visit visa services that include requirements specifically applicable to Pakistani nationals.
Is there a UAE visa ban on Pakistanis?
Based on publicly available official information reviewed in November 2026, there is no publicly announced blanket UAE visa ban covering all Pakistani citizens.
Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs addressed the issue directly during a media briefing on September 10, 2026.
Responding to reports about UAE visa restrictions, the Foreign Office spokesperson said the number of Pakistanis moving to the UAE remained substantially higher than the number being repatriated.
The ministry said around 40,000 to 50,000 Pakistanis had been emigrating to the UAE annually over the previous five years, while approximately 7,000 to 8,000 Pakistanis were repatriated annually during that period.
Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs — September 10, 2026 Briefing
This does not mean every visa application will be approved. Visa approval remains subject to UAE immigration rules, individual eligibility, documentation and security checks.
It does, however, make an important distinction between stricter scrutiny of individual applications and a nationwide prohibition on visas for Pakistani passport holders.
UAE visa processing showed improvement during 2026
Visa processing for Pakistanis went through a difficult period, particularly for some visit visa applicants.
By August 2026, however, travel industry representatives reported an improvement.
Arab News Pakistan reported on August 1, 2026 that UAE visit visas were again being issued to Pakistani citizens applying through registered travel agents.
A UAE Embassy official quoted in the report confirmed that visit visas were available for ordinary passport holders applying through registered travel agencies. Travel representatives also reported better processing for family applications after a period of uncertainty.
Arab News Pakistan — UAE Visit Visa Processing for Pakistanis
The report is useful because it provides context on the practical situation faced by applicants, but travellers should still rely on official UAE immigration channels for their individual application.
Visa policy and individual approval decisions can change depending on the type of visa, applicant profile and documents submitted.
Reports say visa issuance has increased again
More recently, Pakistani media reported a further improvement in UAE visa issuance.
On October 22, 2026, Jang reported, citing senior diplomatic sources, that the UAE was issuing approximately 30,000 visas a month to Pakistani citizens on average.
The report said online visa issuance had returned closer to its normal pace after earlier difficulties.
Jang — October 2026 UAE Visa Report
This figure should be treated carefully.
The UAE’s Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security has not, in the official material reviewed for this report, published a corresponding announcement confirming a fixed monthly quota of 30,000 visas for Pakistani nationals.
For that reason, The UAE Time is treating the 30,000 figure as a figure attributed to diplomatic sources, rather than an official UAE monthly visa target or guarantee.
Applicants should also be cautious about social-media posts claiming that a certain number of Pakistani visas will automatically be issued within a particular number of days.
Visa approval remains an individual immigration decision.
What UAE authorities currently require for tourist visas
The UAE’s Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security, or ICP, continues to publish tourist visa requirements through its official services.
According to the ICP, tourist visas may allow stays of 30, 60 or 90 days, depending on the visa category.
General requirements include a passport with at least six months’ validity, health insurance and travel documentation. The ICP also states that tourist visa applications may be submitted through approved channels, including its official digital services and authorised tourism offices.
UAE ICP — Official Visa Frequently Asked Questions
For Dubai specifically, the General Directorate of Identity and Foreigners Affairs — Dubai, or GDRFA, lists official services for single-entry tourist visas.
The GDRFA states that a tourist may receive a single-entry visa for 30 or 60 days through a tourism establishment acting as sponsor or host.
Its current service page lists a fee of AED 200 for a 30-day tourist visa and AED 300 for a 60-day tourist visa, before applicable VAT and other relevant charges.
Importantly for Pakistani applicants, the GDRFA service page specifically lists an identity card from the applicant’s country of origin among the requirements for certain nationalities, including Pakistan.
GDRFA Dubai — Single-Entry Tourist Visa Service
A separate GDRFA service is also available for multiple-entry tourist visas. The current service page lists 30-day and 60-day options, subject to the applicable conditions and approval.
GDRFA Dubai — Multiple-Entry Tourist Visa Service
Pakistan Consulate issues travel guidance for visitors
Pakistani travellers can also find useful guidance through the Consulate General of Pakistan in Dubai.
The consulate currently advises Pakistani tourists and visitors to make sure they have a passport valid for at least six months and an appropriate UAE visa before travelling.
Its guidance also tells visitors to have confirmed accommodation, a return ticket and sufficient funds.
The consulate specifically advises tourists to have at least AED 3,000 in cash or access to funds through a valid credit card, as well as the details of their UAE sponsor where applicable.
Pakistan Consulate Dubai — Guidelines for Pakistani Visitors
These requirements matter because receiving a visa does not necessarily remove the need to satisfy entry requirements when arriving at a UAE airport.
Travellers should therefore prepare their supporting documents before departure rather than assuming that the visa itself is the only document they may be asked to produce.
Family and relative visits have separate options
Pakistanis visiting family members or friends in Dubai may also have other visa routes depending on their circumstances.
The GDRFA currently publishes a service for a single-entry visa to visit a relative or friend for 30, 60 or 90 days.
The service requires supporting documents, which can include proof of relationship such as a marriage contract or birth certificate, depending on the case. Pakistani nationals are again among the nationalities for which an identity card from the country of origin is listed in the requirements.
GDRFA Dubai — Visit Visa for Relatives or Friends
Applicants should select the visa category that accurately matches the purpose of their trip instead of applying under an unrelated category.
Pakistanis are not included in the latest special visa-on-arrival expansion
Another area that can cause confusion is the UAE’s expansion of special entry visa eligibility for certain nationalities.
In June 2026, the ICP announced that nationals of Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines, Kenya and South Africa had been added to a special entry visa category that previously included India, subject to specific foreign visa or residency conditions.
Pakistan was not included in that June expansion.
UAE ICP — June 2026 Entry Visa Eligibility Update
Pakistani ordinary passport holders should therefore not assume that rules applying to Indian or other listed passport holders automatically apply to them.
The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs continues to classify Pakistani ordinary passport holders as requiring a visa before entry.
What Pakistani applicants should take from the current situation
The latest official and diplomatic information points to a more nuanced situation than many social-media posts suggest.
Pakistani citizens can apply for UAE visas, and UAE government systems continue to list visa services and requirements relevant to Pakistani nationals.
Recent reporting has also pointed to improved processing compared with earlier periods in 2026.
But applicants should not interpret this as guaranteed approval.
The UAE has the right to approve or refuse individual visa applications under its immigration laws, and requirements may differ depending on whether the applicant is travelling for tourism, employment, business, family visits or another purpose.
Applicants should also avoid relying on agents or websites that promise guaranteed approval.
The Pakistan Consulate in Dubai has separately warned Pakistani citizens about unauthorised online portals and has advised them not to provide passport, biometric or payment information to websites that cannot be verified.
Pakistan Consulate Dubai — Public Advisory
The UAE Time research conclusion
Based on the official sources reviewed for this report, the current position in November 2026 is clear on several points.
Pakistani ordinary passport holders require a visa to enter the UAE. There is no publicly announced blanket visa ban covering all Pakistanis. UAE immigration authorities continue to offer tourist and visit visa services applicable to Pakistani applicants, while Pakistan’s Foreign Office has rejected claims suggesting that visas have completely stopped.
At the same time, visa approval is not automatic.
Applicants should use the correct visa category, provide complete and genuine documents, meet travel and financial requirements and check the latest information through UAE government channels before travelling.
Reports that UAE visa processing for Pakistanis has improved are encouraging, but specific social-media claims about guaranteed approvals, fixed quotas or automatic visa issuance should not be treated as official unless confirmed by the relevant UAE authority.
Sources reviewed by The UAE Time
UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs — Visa Requirements
UAE Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security — Visa FAQ
GDRFA Dubai — Tourist Visa Requirements
Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs — September 10, 2026 Briefing
Pakistan Consulate Dubai — Visitor Guidelines
Arab News Pakistan — UAE Visa Processing Update
Jang — October 2026 Visa Issuance Report
Research note: This report describes publicly available visa rules and recent diplomatic information as of November 2026. Visa approval remains the responsibility of the relevant UAE immigration authorities and may depend on an applicant’s individual circumstances.
