Tensions between Pakistan and the UAE have escalated since April 2026, against the backdrop of Islamabad’s mediation efforts between Washington and Tehran following the US–Israel war in Iran, and its muted response to Iranian drone attacks on Emirati territory.
Reports citing New Lines Magazine, carried by Iran’s Press TV and referenced by The New York Times, suggest that up to 15,000 Pakistanis—largely Shia workers—have been deported from the UAE since mid-April. The expulsions are ongoing and, according to these reports, disproportionately target individuals perceived to have expressed solidarity with Iran.
Detainees and their families allege that many were arrested without formal charges or legal recourse, with accounts describing sudden detentions, confiscation of phones, and transfers between facilities before deportation. Some deportees were reportedly denied access to their bank accounts prior to removal, leaving families financially devastated.
New Lines Magazine further reports claims that identity-tracking mechanisms may have been used, including biometric data and Emirates ID-linked records from visits to Shia places of worship.
The UAE has not publicly detailed the basis for the reported scale of deportations. However, Pakistan’s Foreign Office maintains the removals are routine immigration enforcement actions linked to overstays, legal violations, and a UAE royal pardon programme. Spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said on May 6 that around 1,500 emergency travel documents were issued between January and April, stressing there is no political or sectarian targeting and that diplomatic coordination with the UAE is ongoing.
On May 7, Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs dismissed reports of sect-specific expulsions as “malafide” and “fake news,” asserting that deportations occur in accordance with host country laws and on a case-by-case basis.
The issue comes amid growing economic strain for Pakistan. In April, the UAE reportedly sought early repayment of a $3.5 billion loan—equivalent to roughly 21% of Pakistan’s foreign reserves—after perceiving Islamabad’s stance during the Iran conflict as insufficiently supportive.
Mass deportations could further impact Pakistan’s fragile economy by disrupting remittance inflows from its 1.8 million-strong diaspora in the UAE. Remittances from the Emirates totalled $4.1 billion in FY2025 and remain a critical source of foreign exchange and household income.
