Claim: The UAE and Pakistan signed a visa-exemption agreement, allowing citizens from both countries to travel without visas.
Fact: The claim is misleading as the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) only allows holders of diplomatic and official passports to travel without a visa. The exemption does not extend to ordinary Pakistani passport holders.
The Instagram account @Khaleejjournal shared a still video of Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar shaking hands with his United Arab Emirates (UAE) counterpart Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed. The video’s accompanying caption said:
“The UAE and Pakistan have inked a landmark visa-exemption agreement, allowing citizens from both nations to travel without visas—a major boost for tourism, business, and bilateral ties. 🇦🇪🇵🇰 Smooth travel and closer connections await!”
Similar claims were shared across social media platforms.
UAE visa rejections
In 2024, a surge in UAE visa rejections for Pakistanis sparked widespread concern on local social and mainstream media platforms. While the Pakistan Embassy in Abu Dhabi denied any formal visa ban, it admitted that no official explanation had been provided by Emirati authorities for the visa rejections. However, Pakistan’s Ambassador to the UAE, Faisal Tirmizi, acknowledged the trend, calling the surge in rejections “unprecedented” during a statement at GITEX Global 2024 in Dubai.
In July 2025, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi addressed the issue during a press conference in Karachi, confirming he would meet his UAE counterpart to discuss the matter. “You are right, this has become an issue,” he said, expressing hope that a solution would be reached.
Media outlets have linked the drop in approvals to concerns over documentation, criminal background checks, and allegations that some Pakistani expats fail to respect local laws and customs, according to a report by Arab News.
Fact or Fiction?
Soch Fact Check conducted a keyword search using the terms “Pakistan,” “UAE,” and “visa exemption.” According to multiple news reports, Pakistan and the UAE signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on mutual visa exemption during the 12th session of the Pakistan-UAE Joint Ministerial Commission (JMC), held on 24 June. However, the visa is limited to diplomatic and official passport holders of the two countries.
Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar shared photographs from the session on X, writing, “My Brother HH Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed @ABZayed and I signed an agreement on mutual visa exemption for the holders of diplomatic & official passports of our two countries, at the conclusion, very late last night, of a highly productive 12th session of the Pakistan-UAE Joint Ministerial Commission (JMC) which was held in Abu Dhabi after gap of 12 years.
This important step reflects our shared resolve to further strengthen our fraternal ties and deepen institutional collaboration across all levels.”
A Condé Nast Traveller Middle East report supported Dar’s statement, clarifying that the MoU will have little impact on most Pakistani travellers, as it applies exclusively to holders of diplomatic and official passports. The exemption does not cover ordinary passport holders, meaning Pakistani citizens and residents travelling for tourism, family visits, or business must continue to follow the standard visa procedures for entry into the UAE, and vice versa.
The report further stated that entering Pakistan recently became much easier for UAE-based travellers. In August 2024, sweeping visa reforms introduced visa-on-arrival access for all GCC residents, including those living in the Emirates. Additionally, nationals of 126 countries, including the UAE, are now eligible to apply for Pakistani visas online with no application fees.
Virality
The claim was shared here, here, here, and here on Facebook. Archived here, here, here, and here.
On Instagram, it was shared here (archive).
It was shared here (archive) on X.
Conclusion: The claim that the UAE and Pakistan signed a visa-exemption agreement for all citizens is misleading. The agreement applies only to diplomatic and official passport holders.
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Background image in cover photo: Aletihad
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