Al Mamun Harun Ur Rashid :
The United Arab Emirates has suspended the issuance of visas for nationals from nine countries, including Bangladesh, triggering alarm among migrant workers, recruitment agencies, and policymakers.
The countries on the current ban list, according to UAE Visa online, are Afghanistan, Libya, Yemen, Somalia, Lebanon, Bangladesh, Cameroon, Sudan, and Uganda. It will be effective in January 2026.
“While the UAE government has not confirmed when the ban will be lifted, the restrictions are considered temporary. Nationals already living in the UAE with valid visas are unaffected,” it added.
The UAE government has not provided detailed explanations for the visa ban, but multiple reports suggest it may be linked to a combination of factors.
Security concerns appear to be a major driver, with authorities seeking to protect residents from potential threats such as terrorism or other unlawful activities. Geopolitical tensions between Gulf countries and certain nations may also
have influenced the decision. Additionally, the UAE’s pandemic-related entry protocols, aimed at controlling the spread of COVID-19, could have contributed to the restrictions.
The ban, however, has created immediate worries in Bangladesh, which counts the UAE as one of its largest manpower export destinations and a crucial source of remittances.
According to estimates, between 10 and 15 lakh Bangladeshi nationals are currently living and working in the UAE.
They form a vital part of the expatriate community and send home billions of dollars annually, sustaining Bangladesh’s foreign currency reserves. The new restrictions threaten to disrupt this flow, as the recruitment of fresh workers has now come to a halt.
According to the latest data from Bangladesh Bank, the UAE remains one of the most important sources of remittances for Bangladesh. Bangladesh Bank’s Quarterly Remittance report (Jan-Mar FY25) showed, the country received 1,444.90 from USA; 1,092.86 from UAE; 1,047.43 from Saudi Arabia (KSA); 966.10 from UK; 629.33, from Malaysia; 461.73 from Kuwait; 437.12 from Oman; 398.29 from Italy; 313.63 from Qatar; and 702.58 from other countries.
This makes the UAE the second-largest source of remittances after Saudi Arabia, highlighting its critical role in sustaining country’s foreign exchange earnings and the potential economic impact any visa restrictions could have on the country’s remittance-dependent economy.
Talking with the New Nation on Saturday, Ali Haider Chowdhury, former General Secretary of the Bangladesh Association of International Recruiting Agencies (BAIRA), expressed deep concern at the development.
“This is unfortunate that we have been enlisted with the African countries. Our situation is not like them,” he said.
Chowdhury urged immediate diplomatic intervention, stressing, “The government should immediately sit with the UAE authorities to sit down for thorough discussion to resolve it. If there is any misunderstanding we can resolve it through discussion.”
Highlighting the economic risks, he warned that the crisis comes at a time when Bangladesh’s manpower market is shrinking.
“The manpower market is also closed for Bangladesh except Saudi Arabia. If this situation continues, it will badly affect our economy,” he said.
He argued that the Foreign Ministry must play an active role to identify the reasons behind the UAE’s move and engage in proactive diplomacy to secure the market for Bangladeshi workers. “Bangladesh cannot be considered as a threat country.
Already around 10-15 lakh Bangladeshi people are living in UAE, he said.
“If any agency is involved in irregularities, the government can take action against them. But the ministry cannot say that Bangladeshis provide fake documents so the market is being closed.
What action the government has taken against the agencies? Mere speech cannot resolve the problem. It is a national issue. We cannot destroy the market for certain agencies,” he said.
Experts said that the only way forward is through diplomacy, restoring confidence with UAE authorities, addressing irregularities, and ensuring that the Bangladeshi workforce remains an integral part of the Gulf’s labour market.
