KARACHI: Pakistani travellers are left confused as they face unexplained visa rejections despite having proper documentation, while there’s a differing position between Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) regarding visas’ issuance, with the former claiming a ban and the latter denying it.

The confusing situation on the ground has upended plans for professionals, tourists and families alike. For 28-year-old marketing professional Nadeem, a planned vacation turned into a months-long ordeal after two back-to-back rejections.

The travel agency handling his case told Nadeem the reason was his age, explaining that applicants “under 40” were facing higher scrutiny.

His ordeal highlights an existing problem for people who are navigating a confusing and often costly visa process despite official statements from the UAE denying any formal restrictions.

Travel agencies report rejection of up to 80pc for individual applicants, with family applicants having greater chances of acceptance

“I don’t understand it. What does my age have to do with anything?” said Nadeem, who asked to be identified only by his first name.

“I’m employed full-time, and I submitted my bank statement. My friend, a freelancer, got it on the first attempt. I have applied for a third time, so I’m keeping my fingers crossed, but it’s exhausting.”

Visa rejections have become a recurring issue, creating widespread frustration.

Even corporate sponsorship is no guarantee of success. Syed Abbas Raza Naqvi, 25, who works for a US company, received repeated rejections despite having an official invitation for a conference.

“I started trying in September last year for a conference in January,” he said. After three failed attempts, a “‘guaranteed visa’ was issued at a higher fee, but the process remains opaque and stressful.”

Later, his application for a five-year, multiple-entry visa costing $1,200 was also rejected, resulting in a significant financial loss.

Travel agencies confirmed the trend, but offered conflicting reasons for the rejections. Saher Nazeer, a customer services representative at Visa Express Karachi, said that “first-time and single-entry visa applications for Dubai face 70 to 80pc rejections, while family ties improve chances.”

A manager at Trips Travel & Tours added that single visas have an approval rate of just 20 per cent, while family visas see around 80pc acceptance.

Ubaid Sajjad at AEG-Visa cited strict financial requirements. “You have better chances if you provide a six-month bank statement with around Rs3 million,” he said, calling insufficient funds a major reason for denials.

Another agent, Quratulain at Premio Travel & Tours, blamed “previous overstaying and unclear financial documentation”.

Discussions on Pakistani social media reveal wider frustration. Reddit users described blocked transit visas and contradictory messages from agencies like VFS Global, with one user noting that professional status or age often determined whether a visa would be approved.

Some users said there was effectively a “ban on visit visas for Pakistanis in Dubai” due to concerns over alleged illegal migration.

This uncertainty on the ground contrasts sharply with official diplomatic positions.

A senior Pakistani interior ministry official recently told a Senate panel on Thursday that the Gulf nation had stopped issuing visas to most Pakistanis.

Additional Interior Secretary Salman Chaudhry informed the Senate committee that the UAE was not issuing visas, except for blue and diplomatic passport holders.

However, a senior diplomat at the UAE embassy, speaking on the condition of anonymity, told Dawn that there’s no ban on visas for Pakistani citizens.

Published in Dawn, November 29th, 2025