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The United Arab Emirates (UAE) recently expelled thousands of Pakistanis, reportedly as many as 15,000, since the middle of April 2026. Most affected belong to the Shia Muslim community, who are apparently arrested and kidnapped without any charges and sent away suddenly, sometimes without the means of acquiring savings.

The action comes amid escalating tensions between the two nations over issues related to Iran and UAE demands to pay back a $3.5 billion loan. A cleric in Islamabad has said that he has now registered more than 5,000 affected families.

Pakistan's Interior Ministry has dismissed allegations of targeted or sect-based deportations, stating they were “propaganda” and any actual deportations were due to normal violations in immigration rules.

Remittances from almost 2 million working Pakistani nationals in the UAE have touched billions during the year, and deportation could have its negative consequence on Pakistan's economy. The story has caught the attention of many people, and it has been widely spreading around the world. The future Pakistani workers in the context of Gulf countries have been questioned.