UAE eases visit visa processing for Pakistani applicants

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has resumed issuing visit visas to Pakistani citizens applying through registered travel agencies, according to travel industry representatives and a UAE embassy official quoted by Arab News.

The move comes after months of delays and stricter scrutiny that affected travel between Pakistan and the UAE, where around 1.8 million Pakistanis live and which remains one of Pakistan's largest sources of remittances.

Travel industry representatives said family visa applications have seen the biggest improvement. Muhammad Nadeem Sharif, chief executive of Aroma Travels and former chairman of the Travel Agents Association of Pakistan, said applicants travelling with families or joining relatives in the UAE were receiving visa decisions on time.

Another association representative, Muhammad Hanif Rinch, also reported higher approval rates for family applications, adding that families currently account for about 10% of Pakistani visitors to the UAE.

A UAE embassy official confirmed that visit visas were being issued to ordinary Pakistani passport holders applying through registered travel agents. The official said some delays had previously occurred because of safety and security concerns but applicants with complete documentation could now submit applications without difficulty.

According to a senior Pakistani immigration official, daily passenger traffic from Pakistan to Dubai has risen to around 400 travellers by the end of July, compared with about 170 earlier this summer, although it remains below levels recorded two years ago.