Government says no country- or sect-specific expulsions are carried out from the UAE under current laws
Pakistan-UAE flags. Photo: File
The Interior Ministry on Friday dismissed reports of alleged targeted expulsions of Pakistani nationals from the United Arab Emirates, calling the claims “spurious” and part of a “vicious propaganda” campaign.
The issue first surfaced last month when some social media accounts claimed that around 1,200 Pakistanis had been deported from the UAE over visa-related reasons and alleged law violations following the regional crisis that erupted after the US-Iran war. A report published by The New York Times Earlier today, he claimed that the UAE had launched a large-scale expulsion of Pakistani workers.
The report said it interviewed 20 Pakistani Shiites, including eight UAE-based businessmen, who claimed their Pakistani employees had been expelled in recent weeks. According to the report, the expulsions took place amid “perceived UAE dissatisfaction with Pakistan’s response to Iranian strikes” against the Gulf state, as Islamabad attempted to broker a peace deal between the United States and Iran.
In a statement today, the Home Office said it had reviewed the details and relevant data and concluded that the reports were fabricated and misleading.
“No country- or sect-specific expulsions from any country, including the UAE, are being carried out,” the statement said.
The Interior Ministry has taken note of speculative reporting in some media, particularly social media, on targeted expulsions of Pakistani nationals from the sister Islamic country of the UAE.
– Ministry of Interior GoP (@MOIofficialGoP) May 8, 2026
The ministry clarified that expulsions, when they took place, were part of a routine process undertaken in accordance with the regulations and legal system of the host country, including cases involving violations of laws, overstays or illegal documents.
He further said that Pakistani nationals who met the visa and work requirements of host countries continued to travel and obtain work visas for the UAE and other friendly countries “without prejudice”.
The ministry said “fake news” and social media posts suggesting otherwise were “malicious and fabricated” and aimed to serve “ulterior motives”.
He added that any matter involving a Pakistani national abroad is dealt with on a case-by-case basis with the country concerned through established channels of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (FO).
Meanwhile, when asked about the issue at the weekly press briefing, the Foreign Ministry spokesperson said he was not aware of the developments.
Asked again on the subject, he said Pakistan’s missions in Abu Dhabi and Dubai were actively handling individual consular cases brought to their attention by members of the community or by the applicants directly.
He said the deportations were related to immigration status violations, legal offenses and repatriation.
“I do not see any political reason for their expulsion. These are primarily legal matters, which are handled both by our diplomatic missions in the United Arab Emirates and by the authorities of the United Arab Emirates,” said the FO spokesperson.
