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UAE Visa Cancellations Not Bangladesh-Specific as 626 Nationals Affected, Says State Minister

Bangladesh's State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam clarified that recent automatic UAE visa cancellations affected 626 Bangladeshi nationals, refuting reports of 5,000 cases. The cancellations also impacted citizens from Pakistan, Egypt, the Philippines, and Nepal. Bangladesh has submitted 417 cases to UAE authorities for renewal while warning expatriates against document forgery and regulatory violations.

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The government of Bangladesh clarified that the recent automatic cancellation of UAE visas was not specific to Bangladeshi nationals, confirming that 626 Bangladeshis were affected rather than media reports claiming around 5,000 cases, according to The Bangladesh Monitor.

Briefing reporters after an inter-ministerial meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Affairs State Minister Shama Obaed Islam stated that nationals from Pakistan, Egypt, the Philippines, Nepal, and several other countries had also experienced similar visa cancellations. She noted that detailed records for 417 affected workers had already been submitted to UAE authorities for renewal, with the remaining cases to be processed in phases.

Bangladesh's diplomatic missions in Abu Dhabi and Dubai have engaged with UAE authorities. The government is also examining whether some cancellations were driven by employer actions, such as job termination, in which case overseas missions plan to contact relevant employers to pursue remedies.

The state minister highlighted document fraud as a key factor in visa renewal rejections, noting that UAE authorities deny renewals when forged papers are detected. She stated the government may amend the Overseas Employment and Migrants Act, 2013, to enforce stricter penalties against fraud, while advising expatriates to respect local laws and exercise caution on social media.

State Minister for Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Nurul Haque Nur announced plans to launch a dedicated hotline in Bangladesh alongside an emergency service desk in the UAE to assist and register affected expatriates.

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