The United Arab Emirates has resumed issuing visit visas to Pakistani citizens applying through registered travel agents, offering relief to travelers after months of delays and uncertainty.
Travel industry representatives say visa processing has become smoother, particularly for families and applicants visiting relatives already living in the UAE. The development is expected to improve travel between the two countries and support tourism activity.
Muhammad Nadeem Sharif, Chief Executive of Aroma Travels and former chairman of the Travel Agents Association of Pakistan (TAAP), said family applications that previously faced lengthy delays are now receiving timely responses. He added that tourism promotion activities have resumed and passenger traffic is gradually recovering.
A UAE embassy official in Pakistan also confirmed that visit visas are being issued to ordinary passport holders applying through registered travel agencies. The official, speaking anonymously, said applicants with complete documentation can now apply without difficulty.
The official noted that earlier delays were linked to localized safety and security considerations rather than an official visa ban.
The UAE hosts around 1.8 million Pakistanis and remains one of Pakistan’s largest sources of overseas remittances. Because of these close economic and family ties, visa policies directly affect thousands of travelers every month.
For months, applicants had reported delays and increased scrutiny during the visa process, although both the governments of Pakistan and the UAE repeatedly maintained that no formal visa ban on Pakistani nationals existed.
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Travel agents expect the latest development to encourage tourism, family visits and business travel as visa processing returns to a more predictable pace.
