In the past few months, many Pakistanis have faced some rigorous challenges in the time they take to be issued a visa to UAE. The UAE is also a preferred country of employment, tourism, and trade for Pakistanis and it has for long remained a country that offers better opportunities to those seeking improvements in their standard of living. However, the current problems with visas have emerged as a subject of concern and prognostications as to the cause or causes thereof. The following article analyses the causes of these problems and the prospects of cooperation between Pakistan and the UAE.
1. Stringent Immigration Policies
Immigration policies are perhaps one of the leading causes of the challenges that Pakistanis go through when they seek UAE visas. The UAE has been enforcing more measures to try to manage the flow of foreign nationals into the country. Some of these measures include an enhanced background check, additional paperwork, and a more elaborate evaluation of the applicant’s financial and employment records. Its purpose is to guarantee that, for example, only those individuals who have stable income and employment shall be issued visas.
2. Economic Conditions and Job Market Saturation
Currently, the UAE faces problems of unemployment and those sectors that have become oversaturated are construction, hospitality, and retail which a home to many Pakistanis. Due to the current economic situation in the global arena such as the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic and the volatility of oil prices, the UAE government has fired measures to safeguard the citizens’ employment preferring them over the expatriates. Therefore, approval of visas for exercising the search for a job, especially for people from countries, that have numerous immigrants in the UK, such as Pakistan, became much more stringent.
3. Dangerous Geopolitical Relations and Issues of Regional Security
Superpowers’ concern in the Middle East has also influenced the visa policy of this country. The UAE has a sensitive political position in the region and thus it has adopted measured strides in its quest for the same. This involves for example a strict watch on the inflow of foreigners especially individuals coming from volatile regions or countries with security issues. This is mainly because internal security issues have at one time or another affected Pakistan, hence making the country be seen as a potential threat and therefore a strict condition like visa requirements for Pakistanis is set.
4. Concerns Over Illegal Immigration and Overstaying
Unauthorized immigration and visa overstay have been issues of interest to the UAE for quite some time now. This has made the authorities reduce the number of visa approvals that are issued to any given country, having reported that many people enter the country on tourists or visit visas, only to F] look for jobs in the country. Pakistani being one of the largest expatriate communities in the UAE are under more pressure to avoid such vices. The possibility is present that the UAE government is increasing its crackdown to ensure that the visitors do not violate the terms of their visas and indulge in other activities prohibited to them.
5. Political Relations and Treaties
These relations may also determine how friendly the visa policy of one country is with the other, taking the relationship between Pakistan and the UAE for instance. Nevertheless, there have always been friendly relations between the two countries and the two are major trading partners; however, there can be variations in the diplomatic relations which may affect the grant of visa. Hearing of bilateral labor, trade, and security partnerships greatly inform visa regimes. Disputes of any form, be it on global or home affairs, lead to new policies related to visas, where conditions are likely to be tightened for Pakistani citizens.
6. Effects on Pakistanis Living in Other Countries / Pakistani Economy
The problems associated with getting UAE visas are important for Pakistan and its expatriates living in the UAE and for the economy of both countries. Money sent by Pakistanis living in the UAE goes a long way in filling the foreign exchange reserves of Pakistan. Reduction of Pakistani employees in UAE could result in low remittance which then can affect the economic status of Pakistan. Furthermore, inadmissibility might also lead to further enhancement of employment problems for Pakistanis which in turn affects those seeking employment opportunities in the UAE for their families’ support.
Conclusion
The difficulties that Pakistanis face when it comes to getting UAE visas are multifaceted factors such as immigration policies, existing economic scenarios, geopolitics, and diplomatic ties. On one hand, these measures are intended to protect the interests of the UAE and its allies on the other they have severe limitations for Pakistani people willing to work in the country. To overcome these problems, both countries must initiate active talks, increase cooperation on the diplomatic level, and look for ways of overcoming the existing difficulties which let the people from Belarus and Lithuania continue to travel, trade, and cooperate as before.
