Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have signed a visa exemption agreement for holders of diplomatic and official passports, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar announced on Wednesday.
The agreement was finalized during the 12th session of the Pakistan-UAE Joint Ministerial Commission (JMC), held in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday. The meeting was co-chaired by Ishaq Dar and UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
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In a statement posted on X, Dar confirmed the signing of three memoranda of understanding (MoUs), which included visa exemption, cooperation in artificial intelligence and digital economy, and a framework for joint investment promotion. He described the agreements as steps toward deepening bilateral engagement for mutual benefit.
The JMC session reviewed the status of ongoing collaborations and explored expanded cooperation in key sectors such as trade, energy, infrastructure, and IT. Both countries emphasized the importance of stronger institutional links and inter-ministerial coordination to speed up project execution.
The UAE remains a major destination for Pakistani workers. In 2024 alone, over 64,000 Pakistanis secured employment there. With nearly 727,000 citizens going abroad for work last year, the UAE plays a critical role in Pakistan’s labour migration and remittance flows.
The visa exemption is expected to improve diplomatic coordination and official travel between the two nations.
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