ISLAMABAD (Web-Desk); The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has officially activated a visa waiver for holders of Pakistani diplomatic and official passports at all its airports, marking a key development in bilateral relations. The move follows the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two nations last month, which stipulated that the agreement would take effect 30 days after being signed.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar confirmed the development in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday. He stated that during his meeting on June 24, 2025, in Abu Dhabi with UAE’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, both sides agreed on the reciprocal visa exemptions.
“In my meeting at Abu Dhabi on 24th June 2025 with my brother Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of UAE, His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, we agreed mutual visa waivers on diplomatic and official passports between our two brotherly countries,” Dar shared in his post.
He further noted that both leaders signed an MoU at the time, specifying that the visa-free arrangement would become operational 30 days after the signing. According to Dar, the UAE authorities have now officially implemented the agreement as of July 25, 2025, across all UAE airports. He also confirmed that Pakistan has enacted reciprocal measures, granting similar visa exemptions to UAE diplomatic and official passport holders at all Pakistani airports.
The visa waiver is part of broader efforts by Pakistan and the UAE to deepen bilateral cooperation. During the 12th session of the Pakistan-UAE Joint Ministerial Commission (JMC), held in Abu Dhabi on June 24 after a 12-year hiatus, both nations signed several MoUs aimed at strengthening ties in multiple sectors.
Key agreements included a Memorandum on the “Mutual Exemption of Entry Visa Requirements” for diplomatic and official passport holders, and another on the “Establishment of a Joint Task Force to Promote Investments.” Additionally, an MoU focusing on collaboration in Artificial Intelligence and the Digital Economy was also signed, signifying the countries’ shared commitment to innovation and technological advancement.
A comprehensive protocol was also inked to guide future cooperation, which includes procedural frameworks, coordination through sector-specific working groups, and arrangements to facilitate reciprocal high-level visits.
Both sides expressed satisfaction with the progress made during the JMC and agreed to hold the 13th session in Pakistan on mutually convenient dates. The developments signal a renewed momentum in Pakistan-UAE relations, with enhanced collaboration expected across diplomatic, economic, and technological fronts.
