UAE Suspends Issuance Of New Visit Visas For 12 Nations

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) for the time being has stopped issuing new visas to tourists from 12 nations including Pakistan until further notice as per the Foreign Office. In accordance with the ANI report, the news has been validated by the Foreign Office of Pakistan which said that the decision by the UAE administration is "believed to be related to the second wave of COVID-19".

The spokesperson from the Foreign Office of Pakistan Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri said, "We have learnt that the UAE has temporarily suspended the issuance of new visit visas until further announcement for 12 countries, including Pakistan". Also, he added that the Pakistan government is seeking a confirmation on the same from the UAE government.

Importantly, the suspension shall not be applicable to already issued visas, said the Foreign Office. Notably it remains unclear as to how many visa categories shall be affected by the move. The United Arab Emirates typically has different visas issued for different purposes such as for business, travel, transit and student visa.

The decision is likely taken in the wake of increasing number of coronavirus positive cases in the country. Pakistan in a week's time has reported more than 2000 fresh cases of Covid 19. Since late last month, the country is witnessing a surge in fresh cases and the authorities have declared that the country is facing the second Covid 19 wave. On Monday, Pakistan's PM Imran Khan asked its nationals to "act as a nation" in preventing further spread of the virus.

The other nations' in the UAE visit visa suspension list include include Turkey, Iran, Yemen, Syria, Iraq, Somalia, Libya, Kenya and Afghanistan.

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