Fact Check – No Ban on UAE Visa For Pakistanis

The Foreign Office Spokesperson, Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, on Monday confirmed that United Arab Emirates (UAE) has not banned the issuance of visa to Pakistanis belonging to certain cities. Furthermore, the Consulate General of the UAE Karachi, Bakheet Ateeq Al Remeithi, has also made a statement and denied these reports, saying that no such ban has been imposed by the UAE Government.

It is pertinent to mention that false reports have been circulating on social media stating that UAE had banned visa for Pakistanis belonging to certain cities, including Abbottabad, Attock, Bajaur Agency, Chakwal, Dera Ghazi Khan, Dera Ismail Khan, Hangu, Hunza, Quetta, Kasur, Kohat, Kotli, Khushab, Khurram Agency, Larkana, Mohmand Agency, Muzaffargarh, Nawabshah, Parachinar, Sahiwal, Sargodha, Sheikhupura, Skardu and Sukkur. 

Moreover, the poster that has been spreading online warned people born in any of the above mentioned cities to not apply for a UAE visa as it will be rejected and fee is non-refundable.

Talking to Geo News, Remeithi said that Pakistani citizens from any city can apply for a UAE visa, adding that such rumors spread from time to time.

The Foreign Office Spokesperson has also confirmed that UAE has not banned or blacklisted any cities for issuance of visas to Pakistanis. “We have seen the reports. We can confirm that no such ban is in place by UAE for issuance of visas to Pakistani citizens,” Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said.

It bears mentioning that UAE Government had revised the naming guidelines for allowing entry into the country. According to the details, Pakistanis with a single name on their passports will not be allowed to enter the UAE.

The development came through Serene Air, which stated, “The UAE government has revised the naming guidelines for allowing entry in the Emirates. As per the guideline update, passengers holding passports with [only] a single name and no other name – including, father name/family name – will not be accepted,”

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