RIYADH, Feb 18: The ban on issuance of new visas to Pakistani nationals in the UAE, imposed after Sept 11 events, has been lifted. All types of UAE visa — visit, employment, transit or residence — are now being issued to Pakistani nationals, the local press here reported quoting Col Saeed Mattar bin Bleila, director of the Dubai Naturalization and Residence Department.

Col Saeed told newsmen that his department was accepting visa applications from Pakistani nationals, adding that at present there were no official restrictions on issuing any visa to citizens of any country with whom the UAE had diplomatic and friendly ties.

The UAE had stopped issuing new entry visas to Pakistani and Afghan nationals after the Sept 11 events.

The national security authorities were reported to have issued a circular to all the concerned departments and officials last week, lifting the restrictions.

Many here believe that the move just ahead of the upcoming Dubai shopping festival, from March 1, would pave way for a large number of visitors coming over to Dubai from Pakistan and Pakistani expatriates living in the Gulf to join the festivities. A large number of visitors from Pakistan generally come over to Dubai to attend the Dubai festival each year and this year was expected to be no exception.

Last year almost 2.55 million people from all around the globe visited Dubai to attend the festival. This year the number was expected to grow still further.

The visit visa, Col Saeed said, entitled a person to stay in the country for 60 days from the date of entry — 30 days as per the visa duration and another 30 days as grace period.

“In anticipation of the visa rush, we have decided to work in two shifts, morning and night,” he said adding that Dubai has recovered from the effects of the recent international developments and hotels now had almost full occupancy.