UAE cancels visas of 4,000 Bangladeshis

The United Arab Emirates has cancelled the visas of more than 4,000 Bangladeshi nationals, leaving many unable to return to their jobs and businesses after travelling home on leave.

The cancellations have created uncertainty for expatriates and their families. Several affected Bangladeshis said they received notifications through email or mobile messages but were not given clear reasons for the decisions.

Bangladesh’s government has raised the issue with UAE authorities through diplomatic channels and requested a review of the cancellations. Officials are seeking a solution for those who have been unable to return to the UAE.

The number of affected people has reportedly increased to around 4,800, according to Bangladeshi government sources.

Some expatriates said they had been living in the UAE for decades and had built businesses and established families there. One affected resident said he had spent 27 years in the country and was informed about his visa cancellation months after returning to Bangladesh.

Another Bangladeshi said he owned two businesses in Dubai and that his wife was still living there. He expressed concern that being unable to return could cause severe financial losses.

Bangladeshi expatriates who gathered at the National Press Club in Dhaka on September 7 called for government intervention. They submitted several demands, including financial assistance for affected migrants and their families while the issue remains unresolved.

The expatriates also urged Dhaka to intensify diplomatic efforts with Abu Dhabi to enable them to return to their previous workplaces. If returning to the UAE is not possible, they called for government support in securing employment opportunities in other countries.

Bangladesh has been sending workers to the UAE since 1976. The country has since become a major destination for Bangladeshi migrants, with more than 1.2 million Bangladeshis currently living there.

Bangladeshi officials have acknowledged the visa cancellations and said efforts are underway to resolve the matter through diplomatic engagement.

Experts say heightened security concerns and increased scrutiny in the UAE may be contributing to closer examination of expatriate visa and residency records. Issues such as delayed renewals, documentation problems and activities on social media may face greater scrutiny.

However, representatives of the Bangladeshi expatriate community have stressed that these factors cannot be confirmed as the direct reasons behind the cancellations.

They have urged the Bangladeshi government to seek greater clarity from UAE authorities and ensure that affected expatriates receive assistance during the ongoing uncertainty.