A fresh controversy has emerged between Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates after Pakistani politician and former National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser alleged that Pakistani passengers were denied hotel accommodation in the UAE following a flight cancellation.
Qaiser claimed that he was among the passengers affected by the incident. According to his account, travellers whose flight had been cancelled sought accommodation at a hotel but were allegedly told that rooms were available only for holders of Indian and American passports.
The allegation was raised by Qaiser as he called for Pakistan’s diplomatic authorities to take up the matter with the UAE government. He described the treatment as inappropriate and said the issue should be addressed through established diplomatic channels.
Qaiser, a leader of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), also highlighted the longstanding relationship between Pakistan and the UAE. He said Pakistani citizens have contributed to the development of the UAE and expressed hope that relations between the two countries would continue to improve.
The former National Assembly speaker further said that other Pakistani travellers had approached him with similar concerns regarding their treatment. He urged Pakistan’s Foreign Office and Foreign Minister to discuss the matter with UAE authorities.
The allegation comes against the backdrop of growing scrutiny over Pakistan-UAE relations and restrictions affecting Pakistani travellers. The UAE introduced tighter visa measures for some categories of Pakistani nationals in late 2025, amid concerns raised by Emirati authorities over undocumented travellers and criminal activity.
However, the specific hotel allegation made by Qaiser has not been independently verified. The claim centres on the treatment of passengers following a cancelled flight and does not, by itself, establish a broader UAE government policy toward Pakistani nationals.
The episode could nevertheless attract diplomatic attention if Pakistan formally takes up the matter with Abu Dhabi. For Islamabad, the incident presents another issue involving the treatment of its citizens abroad, while for the UAE, any clarification regarding the reported hotel policy could help prevent further diplomatic friction.
As of now, no independent confirmation from the UAE authorities or the hotel involved has been reported regarding Qaiser’s allegation.