MANY Pakistanis are facing rejections of their United Arab Emirates (UAE) visa applications without being given any specific reason. The national media has been highlighting various reasons, like Pakistanis getting involved in corruption, begging and other illegal activities.

However, such generalisations are affecting genuine Pakistani visa applicants. I know a few individuals who have valid visit visas to Western destinations, and they even hold property in the emirates. Yet, their UAE visit visa applications have been rejected.

It is a failure on the part of Pakistani diplomats who could not convince the UAE authorities to adopt a more balanced approach while examining visa applications of Pakistanis. The UAE authorities should consider that Pakistanis are the second highest investors, after Indians, in the UAE’s real estate market, and have historically made a huge contribution to the UAE’s infrastructural progress.

Many countries, like Turkiye, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, grant e-visas to the applicants who have a valid visa to countries in the West, especially Europe and North America. At least by implem-enting this approach, many genuine Pakistanis can secure a UAE visa.

Indian nationals holding a valid US visa can get a 14-day UAE visa on arrival.

The discrepancy is stark. It is time Pakistani diplomats convinced the UAE authorities to implement a visa policy for Pakistanis that may benefit both the visa applicants and the UAE government.

Muhammad Qaisar Imam
Karachi

Published in Dawn, December 6th, 2024