The United Arab Emirates has cancelled the visas of thousands of Bangladeshi nationals, leaving many expatriates stranded in Bangladesh after returning home on leave and unable to resume their jobs, businesses and family lives in the Gulf country. The number of affected Bangladeshis has reportedly risen to around 4,800, although the UAE has not publicly confirmed the figure. Bangladesh has taken up the matter with Emirati authorities through diplomatic channels and is seeking a review of the cancellations.
The visa cancellations have caused uncertainty among Bangladeshi workers and business owners who had travelled back to their home country temporarily. Several affected individuals have said they received notifications informing them that their UAE visas had been cancelled, but without any explanation for the decision.
The issue first began drawing attention in July, when Bangladeshi nationals outside the UAE reported that their residency or work visas had been cancelled. The Bangladesh Embassy in Abu Dhabi subsequently urged citizens not to rely on rumours and said it was trying to determine whether the cancellations were the result of a technical issue or whether there were specific reasons behind them. The embassy also said it was in contact with the relevant UAE authorities through diplomatic channels.
One of those affected is Abul Kalam Azad, who had lived in the UAE for 27 years. He returned to Bangladesh on April 7 and later received an email on July 24 informing him that his UAE visa had been cancelled. According to his account, the message did not provide any reason for the cancellation. Azad was among about 350 affected Bangladeshis who attended a programme at the National Press Club in Dhaka on September 7, demanding government intervention and a solution to the problem.
The cancellations have reportedly affected not only employees but also Bangladeshi nationals who own businesses in the UAE. Some of those stranded in Bangladesh have said they have investments, shops, bank accounts and family members in the UAE, making the sudden loss of their visas particularly disruptive.
Bangladesh’s State Minister for Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment, Nurul Haque Nur, said the government was aware of the cancellation of thousands of visas and that both his ministry and the foreign ministry were working to address the matter. Ministry sources subsequently cited by The Daily Star put the number of affected nationals at approximately 4,800.
The Bangladeshi government has sought a diplomatic review of the cases, while affected expatriates have also submitted demands for rehabilitation and financial assistance until the issue is resolved. Those who gathered in Dhaka have reportedly given the government until September 22 to find a solution.
The Bangladesh Embassy has also been compiling information from affected expatriates. By early August, it had received thousands of applications and verified hundreds of cases before forwarding a list of affected individuals to the UAE government through a diplomatic note. The embassy sought clarification regarding the reasons for the cancellations and asked about possible procedures for restoring the visas. It also clarified that being included in its database did not guarantee that a cancelled visa would be reinstated, as the final authority to reactivate visas rests with the UAE government.
The reasons behind the latest cancellations remain unclear. A Bangladeshi embassy official previously cited by bdnews24 said UAE authorities had not provided a formal explanation. The official noted that visa cancellations could potentially be connected to various compliance or administrative issues, including employer quotas, discrepancies between visa designations and actual employment, company-related matters and other violations. These possibilities have not been publicly identified by the UAE as the specific reason for the current cases.
The development is significant for Bangladesh because the UAE hosts around 1.2 million Bangladeshi expatriates, making it one of the country’s largest overseas labour markets. Bangladeshi workers in the UAE are employed across sectors including construction, manufacturing and transportation, while others operate businesses and provide services. The community also contributes substantially to Bangladesh through remittances.
Bangladesh has been seeking greater mobility for its nationals and the reopening of labour visa channels. The latest cancellations therefore add to existing concerns among prospective migrants and expatriates about employment and residency opportunities in the UAE.
The issue is not reported to be limited exclusively to Bangladeshi nationals, with reports indicating that expatriates from other countries, including Pakistan, have also faced visa cancellations. However, the scale of the impact on Bangladeshi nationals has prompted Dhaka to seek direct clarification and intervention from the UAE.
For now, thousands of affected Bangladeshis remain uncertain about whether they will be able to return to their workplaces and businesses. With diplomatic discussions underway, the Bangladeshi government is seeking clarification from the UAE and a possible review of the cancelled visas, while affected expatriates await a resolution to what has become a major concern for their livelihoods and families.
