Yes, Pakistani passport holders can get a UAE visit visa in 2026, but it has to be issued before you fly. Ordinary Pakistani passports do not get a visa on arrival. You have two routes: a tourist visa arranged by a licensed UAE travel agency or hotel, or a family or friend visit visa sponsored by a UAE resident.
Government fees in Dubai start at AED 200 for a 30-day single-entry visa. Anything an agent charges above that is a service fee, not a government fee. The rules and fees below were last checked against GDRFA Dubai and ICP sources in October 2026.
Which UAE visit visa fits your trip from Pakistan
The route depends on who in the UAE is responsible for you during the stay.
A tourist visa is sponsored by a licensed tourism company or hotel. You can choose 30 or 60 days, single or multiple entry. In Dubai, the GDRFA does not take a security deposit for this type. Most Pakistani travellers apply this way through an agent in Karachi, Lahore or Islamabad who works with a registered UAE agency.
A family or friend visit visa is sponsored by a UAE resident who holds a valid residence visa and Emirates ID. You can choose 30, 60 or 90 days, single or multiple entry, and the sponsor pays a refundable deposit. If your brother, husband or father works in Dubai, this is usually the stronger file, because the sponsor’s income and relationship are on record with the authorities.
Neither visa allows you to work. If you are only changing flights in Dubai or Abu Dhabi, you may need a transit visa instead, which we explain in our short guide to UAE transit visas.
Sponsor salary rules for a family visit visa
Since late September 2025, ICP ties the sponsor’s minimum monthly salary to how closely the visitor is related:
- First-degree relatives (parents, spouse, children): AED 4,000 per month
- Second- and third-degree relatives (siblings, grandparents, grandchildren, uncles, aunts, cousins): AED 8,000 per month
- Friends or any non-relative: AED 15,000 per month
The logic is simple. The sponsor is legally responsible for the visitor’s housing and support, so the authority expects more income the further the relationship is from the sponsor’s own household. Income is proven through a salary certificate, an attested labour contract, or partnership documents if the sponsor owns a business.
Documents Pakistani applicants need
These apply to both routes unless marked:
- Passport valid for at least six months from entry
- Recent colour photo with a white background
- Copy of your CNIC (GDRFA lists the home-country ID card as a requirement for Pakistani nationals)
- Medical insurance valid in the UAE
- Return or onward ticket
- Hotel booking, or the host’s tenancy contract if staying with family
- Family visa only: sponsor’s Emirates ID, residence visa copy and salary proof
- Family visa only: proof of relationship, such as a birth or marriage certificate
A bank statement is not on the GDRFA tourist visa checklist, and ICP does not publish a fixed minimum balance. Many agents in Pakistan still ask for one because a weak financial profile is a common reason for refusal, so expect the request.
How to apply for a UAE visit visa from Pakistan
- Choose the route. Tourist visa through an agent, or family visa through a resident sponsor.
- Submit the application. The agency or sponsor files online through GDRFA for Dubai or through ICP for the other emirates. You do not visit the UAE embassy for an ordinary visit visa.
- Pay fees and any deposit. The sponsor or agent pays the government fee, VAT and, on family visas, the refundable deposit.
- Receive the e-visa. It arrives by email as a PDF. You can confirm it is genuine using our walkthrough for checking a UAE visa by passport number.
- Travel with printed copies. Carry the visa, hotel booking, return ticket and CNIC. Both Pakistani exit checks and UAE arrival checks can ask for them.
UAE visit visa fees: government charges vs agent prices
These are GDRFA Dubai government fees as of October 2026, before 5% VAT and small service charges:
- Tourist visa, single entry: AED 200 (30 days), AED 300 (60 days)
- Tourist visa, multiple entry: AED 300 (30 days), AED 500 (60 days)
- Family or friend visa, single entry: AED 200, 300 or 400 for 30, 60 or 90 days
- Family or friend visa, multiple entry: AED 300, 500 or 700 for 30, 60 or 90 days
- Refundable deposit on family or friend visas: AED 1,000 (single entry), AED 2,000 (multiple entry)
For visas issued outside Dubai through ICP, confirm the current figure with ICP before paying, as charges can differ by emirate and channel.
Agent packages in Pakistan are quoted in rupees and bundle the government fee with the agent’s margin, insurance and sometimes an “approval guarantee”. Ask for a written breakdown. Government fees are generally not refunded if the visa is refused.
Why visit visas from Pakistan get refused, and what slows them down
From late March 2026, travel agents reported a sharp rise in refusals for Pakistani applicants, mostly first-time, single-entry, solo travellers. By August 2026, approvals had picked up again for files submitted through registered agents, and in September 2026 Pakistan’s Foreign Office said there is no UAE visa ban. Each file is assessed on its own merits, which means the quality of the file matters more than it used to.
The mismatch we see most on Pakistani files is a hotel booking whose dates do not line up with the return ticket. It looks minor, but it reads as a visitor without a fixed plan. A missing or unclear CNIC copy is a close second.
Other patterns that hurt approval:
- Applying through an unregistered sub-agent who re-keys your data with errors
- A previous overstay or absconding record in the UAE
- A thin travel history combined with a short, unexplained trip
A family-sponsored file from a parent or spouse usually gets through more smoothly than a solo tourist file, because the sponsor’s residency and income are already verified.
Frequently asked questions
Can Pakistanis get a UAE visa on arrival?
No. Ordinary Pakistani passport holders must have the visa issued before boarding. Airlines check this at check-in in Pakistan, so you will not be allowed to fly without an approved e-visa. Diplomatic and official passports follow a separate arrangement, which does not apply to ordinary travellers.
How long does a UAE visit visa take from Pakistan?
A complete file usually comes back within a few working days. During heavier screening periods it has taken longer for some Pakistani applicants. Avoid booking non-refundable flights or hotels until the visa is in hand, and treat any agent who promises a fixed approval date with caution.
Is a bank statement required for a UAE tourist visa?
It is not on the official GDRFA checklist for tourist visas, and no fixed minimum balance is published. In practice, many agents request three to six months of statements because a weak financial profile is a frequent refusal reason. If you have one, send it.
Can I extend my visit visa without leaving the UAE?
GDRFA offers extension services for tourist and visit visas, but eligibility, length and cost depend on the visa type and emirate. Confirm the current rules with ICP or GDRFA before your visa expires. Overstaying triggers daily fines and can affect future applications.
Can I look for a job on a UAE visit visa?
You can attend interviews, but you cannot work. The UAE has a separate job-exploration visit visa for that purpose. If you plan to settle long term rather than visit, compare your options in our guide to UAE residency routes by nationality.
Get your visit visa file checked before you pay
Send us on WhatsApp your route (tourist or family), your travel dates, and if a relative is sponsoring, their monthly salary and relationship to you. We will confirm which visa fits, list the exact documents, and point out anything likely to cause a refusal before you pay a single fee. Our WhatsApp number is also on the MyGoldenVisa contact page.
This is general guidance, not legal advice, and final decisions rest with ICP and GDRFA. You can verify the official tourist visa requirements on the GDRFA Dubai single-entry tourist visa page.
About the Author.
Written by Zohaib Hashmi, 6+ years advising on UAE residency and Golden Visa applications across investor, salary, and endorsement routes. Has reviewed and corrected several hundred files, including rejected applications resubmitted successfully after restructuring. Works directly with ICP and GDRFA submission requirements.