The UAE has tightened visa requirements for Pakistani citizens, resulting in a significant surge in rejection rates.
According to Sadiq Sabir, Executive Board Member of the Travel Agents Association of Pakistan (TAAP), applicants now need a minimum PKR 1 million bank statement, confirmed return tickets, and hotel bookings for visa processing. The rejection rate for Pakistani applications has soared to 99%, with around 2,000 applications submitted daily from Lahore alone, most of which are denied.
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Sabir highlighted that applicants face financial losses of AED 1,500 to AED 2,000 per rejection due to non-refundable visa fees and hotel booking charges.
New UAE Visa Policy The UAE introduced these measures to prevent the misuse of visit visas for illegal activities. However, these strict requirements have created hurdles for genuine travelers, particularly tourists and business visitors.
Travel experts warn that the policy could negatively affect Pakistani travelers, travel agencies, and the UAE’s economy.
