The UAE has imposed an undeclared ban on issuing visas to countries of 13 Muslim-majority countries including Pakistan. The move is reminiscent of US President Trump’s Muslim ban but has not attracted the attention it requires as it concerns a Muslim country.
Among the list of countries includes Turkey, Iran Syria, Lebanon, Yemen, Libya and Afghanistan. The reason cited has been “security concerns” and it is evident that these countries have resisted growing pressures and domination by Middle Eastern countries. Interestingly, none of these countries have been informed of the policy and visitors have been left in limbo.
The Foreign Office last week acknowledged that UAE had suspended visas but made its own assumption that it was related due to the coronavirus pandemic. India is a notable exception to the ban even though it has been reporting record cases. This implies that the ban was not due to the pandemic but rather political reasons. This follows reports that relations between the UAE and Pakistan have been stalled and the Emirates is gradually phasing out Pakistani workers and replacing them with Indians.
Millions of Pakistani expats called UAE home and have played a key role in its development. Every year, thousands of workers find employment in the UAE. In 2016, over 306,000 workers went there while in 2020 despite the pandemic over 58,000 people found employed. They sent home remittances of $4 billion every year contributing to much-need foreign exchange. A visa ban would certainly affect Pakistan’s economy as those who lose jobs there will be unable to find employment back home but it could affect the UAE which sees an influx of manpower and capital from here.
It is being rumoured that the ban is linked with the UAE’s recognition of Israel and the accelerating pace of normalization before Trump’s departure. This was followed by a clandestine visit by Israeli PM to Saudi Arabia and a meeting with the Crown Prince. It is evident that Arabs states particularly UAE want other Muslim countries to follow suit and recognise Israel.
Prime Minister Imran Khan had implied that there is pressure to recognise Israel but the claims were rebuffed. Pakistan has stated categorically that it cannot recognise Israel until the Palestine conflict is resolved. It seems the visa ban is a tactic to pressure Pakistan to accede to the growing pressures. Pakistan should adopt an independent policy rather than being guided by other states and shows it standing among Muslim countries.
