Published : 31 Jul 2026, 02:18 AM
Updated : 08 Sep 2026, 09:29 AM
State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed has dismissed reports that 5,000 Bangladeshis had their UAE visas cancelled, saying the actual figure is 626.
She spoke after an inter-ministerial meeting on migrant visa complications on Thursday, citing information from the Bangladesh Embassy in the UAE.
"The figure of 5,000 being circulated is not correct," she said.
The embassy said the cancellations were not Bangladesh-specific, with nationals from Pakistan, the Philippines, Nepal and other countries also affected for different reasons.
Shama said Bangladesh had already submitted 417 of the affected cases for visa renewal, with the remaining applications to be processed in phases.
She identified forged documents as one of the main reasons behind visa renewals being rejected.
"When the UAE authorities detect fake documents, they do not renew those visas," she said.
Shama urged Bangladeshi workers abroad to comply with the laws of their host countries, warning that legal violations make it difficult for the government to assist them.
She said the Bangladesh Embassy in Abu Dhabi was in contact with employers in the UAE to resolve the situation, while noting that workers who lost their jobs and subsequently had their visas cancelled also bore some responsibility.
She added that the government was working to reduce migration costs and prevent fraudulent recruitment practices.
