Visas for Bangladeshis Halted in UAE

International Desk

The United Arab Emirates, recognized as the second-largest labor market in the Middle East after Saudi Arabia, has seen a significant reduction in the number of Bangladeshi workers being sent recently. For several months, nearly all types of visas for Bangladeshis have been halted, effectively closing this labor market.

The visa crisis has left many Bangladeshis who hoped to travel frustrated, while those seeking employment abroad are losing opportunities. It has been reported that the rate of workers being sent has dropped by almost half compared to 2023 due to the visa suspension. Additionally, many institutions in the UAE have also stopped allowing employee transfers, which has created further complications for expatriates.

However, some visas are still being issued in special cases. There are limited opportunities available in Dubai for job seekers with educational qualifications, which are part of the general amnesty by the UAE government.

In 2012, employment visas for Bangladeshis were suspended, causing the number of workers sent to the UAE to drop below 30,000 annually. This ban lasted for nearly nine years. In 2022 and 2023, workers began being sent again under special conditions such as visit visas and based on educational qualifications, benefiting around 200,000 Bangladeshis. However, the trend dramatically declined again in 2024 when visas were once more suspended.

According to BMET, 98,614 workers were sent from Bangladesh to the UAE in 2023. By November 2024, this number had decreased to 47,165. Expatriates have complained that actions such as not returning home on a visit visa, providing fake certificates, and violating laws have negatively impacted Bangladeshi workers.

Tariqul Islam Shamim, vice president of the Bangladesh Business Forum, stated, “Many workers get involved in criminal activities abroad due to a lack of proper understanding of the laws and regulations of the destination country, which tarnishes the country’s image. Initiatives for legal training and awareness before sending workers abroad are necessary.”

Alongside the visa crisis, long-term expatriates in the UAE face complications with changing employers. Some organizations’ inability to change employees adds to the challenges in the labor market.

Swift actions are crucial to help the Bangladeshi labor market overcome this crisis. Proper training, awareness programs, and diplomatic efforts at the international level could resolve these issues. Otherwise, the potential of the Bangladeshi labor market could be damaged, and expatriates may face greater challenges.