A diplomatic issue has surfaced 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 following a flight cancellation in the UAE.
Qaiser raised the issue during proceedings in Pakistan’s National Assembly, stating that he was among the passengers affected by the disruption. According to his account, travellers sought accommodation at a hotel after their flight was cancelled but were allegedly informed that rooms were available only to passengers carrying Indian and American passports.
The Pakistani lawmaker described the alleged incident as concerning and called on Islamabad to seek an explanation through diplomatic channels. He urged Pakistan’s Foreign Office and Foreign Minister to communicate with UAE authorities and address the concerns raised by Pakistani travellers.
Qaiser also referred to the long-standing relationship between Pakistan and the UAE, stressing the contribution made by the Pakistani community to the Gulf country’s development. He expressed the view that such an incident should be handled carefully so that it does not affect the broader relationship between the two countries.
The allegation comes amid continuing attention on travel-related issues affecting Pakistani nationals travelling to the UAE. The UAE remains an important destination for Pakistani workers, businesspeople and other visitors, while the two countries maintain extensive economic and people-to-people connections.
At present, the specific hotel allegation has not been independently verified. There has also been no confirmed public explanation from the hotel concerned or UAE authorities establishing that a formal policy was applied based on passport nationality. Qaiser’s account should therefore be viewed as an allegation pending any official clarification.
If the matter is formally raised by Pakistan, UAE authorities could provide further information about the circumstances surrounding the hotel accommodation decision and the flight disruption. Such clarification would help determine whether the incident resulted from an individual hotel decision, operational circumstances or a broader policy.
The development has nevertheless drawn attention because of its potential diplomatic sensitivity. Any official response from Islamabad or Abu Dhabi could provide greater clarity on the incident and its implications for Pakistani travellers in the UAE.
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