In a candid interview, Ambassador Faisal Niaz Tirmizi addressed the recent visa challenges faced by Pakistanis traveling to the UAE. Speaking on the sidelines of GITEX GLOBAL 2024 in Dubai, Tirmizi recognized the hurdles Pakistanis are encountering, acknowledging “some improvement, but not a lot” in visa rejections, even as the UAE’s amnesty program ends on October 31.
The GITEX event attracted participants from over 180 countries, but many Pakistani startups, IT professionals, and tourists saw their UAE visa applications denied—a shift from the previously straightforward process. Travel agents noted that single male travelers under 45 were especially affected, reflecting the UAE’s shifting visa policies.
Evolving Job Market and Visa Rejections
The UAE’s job market has been transitioning to accommodate more skilled workers, with a focus on advanced sectors. Tirmizi noted this change, saying, “The UAE has evolved to a different level of development. We need to export highly-skilled people, which is the expertise that the market now demands.” Pakistanis have long used tourist and visit visas to enter the UAE and then transition to work visas, a practice that is becoming harder as the UAE’s employment landscape modernizes.
According to data from Pakistan’s Bureau of Emigration & Overseas Employment, the number of Pakistani workers registered in the UAE this year dropped to under 60,000—potentially the lowest figure since the COVID-19 period. At its peak in 2014, over 350,000 Pakistanis were registered for UAE employment.
Adapting to Changing Requirements
Tirmizi highlighted that Pakistan needs to invest in its workforce and adapt to evolving expectations. “We need to equip our workers with emotional intelligence, organizational skills, and the ability to thrive in a multicultural, multi-religious environment,” he said, adding that Pakistan must focus on collaboration between the government and private sector to improve the “Pakistani brand” in international job markets.
He also cautioned against airing grievances on social media, saying, “Criticizing foreign or internal policies on social media backfires. It’s not well-received in the UAE or Pakistan.”
Pakistan’s IT Potential and Hosting GITEX
While discussing GITEX, one of the world’s largest technology expos, Tirmizi expressed optimism about Pakistan’s growing reputation as a tech hub. Despite Minister of State for IT Shaza Fatima Khawaja’s absence, Tirmizi stated Pakistan’s tech sector was well-represented at the event. “These companies are just the beginning. Pakistan was recognized as a ‘tech destination’ at GITEX, but there’s much more to be done,” he said.
Tirmizi sees vast potential in Pakistan’s IT sector, underscoring the need to diversify exports beyond traditional goods like rice and leather. “Pakistan must focus on exporting IT and IT-enabled services,” he said, expressing his intention to follow up on a proposal to bring GITEX to Pakistan, which could showcase Pakistan’s tech capabilities to a global audience.
As the UAE transitions toward a high-skill workforce and Pakistan looks to increase its tech exports, Tirmizi’s remarks underscore a need for both adaptation and innovation to align with the UAE’s evolving market demands.
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