In a significant development aimed at strengthening bilateral relations, Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have implemented visa-free entry for holders of diplomatic and official passports from both countries. The agreement was finalized through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed during the 12th session of the Pakistan-UAE Joint Ministerial Commission (JMC) held in Abu Dhabi on June 24, 2025.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Pakistan, Senator Ishaq Dar, announced that the visa waiver arrangement officially took effect on July 25, 2025. The UAE authorities have confirmed that Pakistani holders of diplomatic and official passports are now exempt from visa requirements at all entry points across the Emirates. In return, Pakistan has also activated reciprocal measures, allowing UAE diplomatic and official passport holders to enter the country without a visa through all Pakistani airports.
Dar explained that the mutual decision was reached during his meeting with UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi. “We both agreed to initiate mutual visa waivers on diplomatic and official passports between our two brotherly nations,” he stated. “The MoU was signed to operationalize the agreement 30 days after its signing, which has now been successfully implemented.”
Beyond the visa waiver agreement, several other significant MoUs were signed during the JMC session. These include an MoU on the mutual exemption of entry visa requirements, the establishment of a joint task force to promote bilateral investments, and collaboration on the advancement of artificial intelligence and the digital economy.
A formal protocol was also signed to define procedural frameworks for follow-up actions, coordination through sectoral working groups, and facilitation of reciprocal high-level visits. This framework is intended to support long-term collaboration and institutional cooperation between the two nations.
Both Pakistan and the UAE expressed satisfaction over the progress achieved during the JMC meeting and agreed to convene the 13th session in Pakistan on mutually convenient dates.
This initiative reflects the deepening of strategic, economic, and diplomatic ties between Pakistan and the UAE, paving the way for greater mobility and cooperation in key sectors.
