UAE revokes thousands of Bangladeshi work visas, stranding expatriates

The United Arab Emirates has withdrawn the visas of thousands of Bangladeshi expatriates, creating a situation where many cannot resume employment or return to families in the Gulf. Figures from Bangladeshi ministry sources indicate the count has climbed from around 4,000 to 4,800, though the UAE has not confirmed the exact number. The foreign ministry noted that 626 individuals faced automatic cancellations, emphasizing that the measure was not limited to Bangladesh.

Affected persons, including long-term resident Abul Kalam Azad and a businessman with two firms in the UAE, received cancellation notices after returning home on leave. The Centre for Non-Resident Bangladeshi’s chairman, MS Shekil Chowdhury, suggested heightened scrutiny linked to the broader Middle East conflict, though he stopped short of attributing causality. Bangladesh’s welfare ministry is collecting details from those impacted to assess the scale and provide assistance, while diplomatic efforts continue to seek visa reinstatement.