Pakistan, UAE sign agreement on entry visa exemption

Pakistan and the UAE have inked a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the mutual exemption of entry visa requirements between the two countries.

This exemption is for holders of diplomatic and official passports.

The MoU was one of several accords reached during a meeting between UAE Deputy Prime Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ishaq Dar.

The meeting was part of the 12th session of the UAE-Pakistan Joint Ministerial Commission held in Abu Dhabi.

The two leaders discussed ways to deepen bilateral cooperation and advance shared interests aimed at enhancing prosperity and development for both nations.

Among the other agreements signed was an MoU to establish a joint task force focused on encouraging UAE investment in Pakistan’s strategic sectors. This agreement was formalised by UAE Minister of Investment Mohamed Hassan Al Suwaidi and Pakistan’s Special Assistant to the Prime Minister, Tariq Bajwa.

Another agreement focused on collaboration in artificial intelligence and the digital economy. It was signed by Mohamed Hassan Al Suwaidi and Zarar Hashim Khan, Federal Secretary at Pakistan’s Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunications.

The UAE delegation to the session was led by Ahmed Ali Al Sayegh, while Tariq Bajwa headed the Pakistani side. In his address, Al Sayegh said the Joint Ministerial Commission reflects the strong and enduring partnership between the two countries, based on decades of close cooperation and mutual vision.

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He commended Dar for his dedication to strengthening bilateral ties, noting the comprehensive growth in relations across multiple sectors.

“Pakistan is a long-standing partner of the UAE,” Al Sayegh stated, highlighting that diplomatic relations between the two nations have flourished since 1971. He further noted that non-oil trade between the two countries surpassed $8.6 billion in 2024, underlining the growing economic engagement.