Has the UAE Suspended Tourist and Work Visas for Pakistan and other 9 Countries?

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has reportedly suspended the issuance of tourist and work visas for citizens of nine countries, a move that many are calling the “UAE visa ban 2025.” Reports claim that the decision, expected to take full effect in early 2026, impacts several nations across Asia and Africa, including Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Yemen, Libya, Somalia, Lebanon, Cameroon, Sudan, and Uganda.

The reports surfaced in October 2025 and quickly gained attention across the affected regions. However, despite widespread media coverage, UAE authorities have not issued any official statement confirming the ban. The lack of a formal announcement has led to confusion and conflicting information from different sources.

Confusion Over the UAE Visa Ban 2025 Explained

While the reports suggest that the UAE will halt the issuance of new tourist and work visas to citizens of the nine countries mentioned above starting January 2026, several diplomatic missions have challenged the claims. Among them, the Pakistani Embassy in Abu Dhabi has publicly denied receiving any directive from UAE authorities regarding visa restrictions on its citizens.

In an official statement, the Pakistan mission described the circulating information as “false” and attributed it to an unverified visa-processing website. The embassy highlighted several red flags in the website’s details, including a mismatched address and contact information registered outside the UAE, suggesting that the source was not credible.

Despite these denials, the widespread coverage of the alleged ban has created confusion among potential travelers and jobseekers from the affected nations. Many recruitment agencies and travel operators have reported inquiries from concerned individuals seeking clarity on whether they can still apply for UAE visas.