The United Arab Emirates United Arab Emirates and Pakistan have agreed in principle to establish a pre-immigration clearance system for Pakistani citizens traveling to the UAE, in a move aimed at streamlining travel procedures and reducing airport processing time.
The agreement was reached during a high-level meeting between Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and a UAE delegation led by Ahmed bin Lahij Al Falasi, Director General of Customs and Port Security.
In this regard, the immigration procedures for Pakistani passengers will be completed in Pakistan before departure.
Once implemented, travelers will be able to exit airports in the UAE without undergoing the usual lengthy immigration checks upon arrival.
The initiative will initially be launched as a pilot project, with Karachi expected to serve as the first testing point. However, authorities have not yet announced a formal date for the rollout.
In this sense, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi expressed optimism that the new arrangement will significantly improve the overall travel experience for Pakistani passengers. He stated that the initiative is designed to make travel smoother, faster, and more efficient.
The UAE delegation welcomed the proposal, describing it as mutually beneficial for both countries. They also assured full cooperation in implementing the pilot phase and finalizing technical and administrative arrangements in coordination with relevant institutions.
The development comes at a time when Pakistani travelers have faced reported difficulties in obtaining UAE visas over the past year.
In addition, in November 2025, Pakistan’s Additional Interior Secretary Salman Chaudhry informed a Senate committee that the UAE was not issuing visas to Pakistani citizens at that time, highlighting broader immigration and travel challenges.
