UAE Tightens Pakistani Worker Regulations

Pakistani Workers in UAE: New Measures for Document Verification

The United Arab Emirates continues to be one of the most popular destinations for Pakistani workers, as evidenced by the latest official data: in the 2024–25 economic year, more than 64,000 Pakistani citizens found employment in the UAE. However, the Pakistani government has escalated its scrutiny to curb illegal emigration and ensure legal frameworks for foreign employment.

Focus on Document Verification

Pakistani authorities have established an operational-level joint committee made up of members from the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and the Bureau of Emigration and Overseas Employment (BE&OE). Their goal is to verify the documents of those intending to work abroad to weed out individuals who do not meet legal requirements.

The initiative is a response to the increasing number of deportations recently observed, involving mainly South Asian nationals, often due to begging and other illegal activities. Measures by the Pakistani government include invalidating the passports of deported individuals, adding their names to monitoring lists, and initiating legal proceedings.

UAE as a Destination

Statistics show that of the 727,381 Pakistani citizens registered for foreign employment in 2024, 9 percent (over 64,000 individuals) chose the UAE as their destination. The country ranks third after Saudi Arabia (62%) and Oman (11%). Other significant destinations include Qatar (6%), Bahrain (3%), and Malaysia (1%).

Currently, approximately 1.7 million Pakistanis live and work in the UAE, forming one of the largest South Asian diasporas in the country. Over 5.5 million Pakistanis reside in the entire Gulf region, and worldwide, nearly 10.3 million work abroad.

Role of Remittances

Pakistani expatriates play a vital role in the country's economy. As of March 2025, remittances reached a record $4.1 billion. Between July 2025 and April, remittances increased by 31 percent year-on-year, rising from $23.9 billion to $31.2 billion. The growth is driven by structural reforms and measures by the State Bank of Pakistan.

What Type of Workforce is in Demand?

According to the economic report, the majority of emigrants are low-skilled workers. Data indicates that 50 percent of emigrants (366,092 individuals) are low-skilled, while 35 percent (255,706 individuals) are skilled workers. The proportion of highly skilled professionals remains relatively low.

Demand for low-skilled labor in the global job market remains strong, particularly in construction, domestic services, and agriculture. Although some decline was noted compared to 2023, the trend has remained stable.

New Permits to Promote Emigration

To facilitate emigration, the Pakistani government issued 65 new permits for foreign labor recruiters in 2024, bringing the number of active licensed recruiters to over 2,260. These entities play a crucial role in ensuring safe and controlled employment.

Summary

With its new regulations and verification system, the Pakistani government makes it clear: its goal is not just to place workers abroad but to ensure orderly, legal, and responsible migration. The UAE remains an important destination for Pakistani labor, but in the future, only those with the appropriate background and documents can access it.

(The article is sourced from releases by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and the Bureau of Emigration and Overseas Employment (BE&OE).)