Why Are Pakistanis So Desperate to Go to Dubai When UAE Treats Us Poorly?

For the last many years, I have been working as a visa consultant in Karachi. Every day, my phone is full of calls:

• Bhai, Dubai visa chahiye.

• Sir, UAE work visa lagwa dein.

And honestly, I don’t understand why Pakistanis are still so desperate to go to Dubai and other UAE countries, when in reality, we don’t get basic respect there.

On the other hand, I have personally lived in Ireland for around 6 years as a student, visited the USA, UK, South Africa, and European countries, and my experience there is completely different:
They may have a strict system, but our image may not be perfect; however, they still give us respect, rights, and dignity.

So the question is simple:

Why are we running behind places that insult us, and ignoring countries that at least treat us as humans?

My Experience in Europe and the USA – Strict but Respectful

I want to share some personal examples so people understand I am not just speaking emotionally.

1. Six Years in Ireland – Never Felt Discriminated

I lived in Ireland for almost 6 years on a student visa.
In all those years:

• I never felt openly insulted.

• I never felt they hate Pakistanis.

• Irish people are friendly and loving people

• The system was clear, immigration was strict, but they were professional and polite.

Of course, no country is perfect, and sometimes you meet rude people anywhere in the world, but overall, the treatment was:

• Fair

• Process-based

• Without unnecessary drama

2. Entering the USA – Professional & Efficient

I visited the USA, and I still remember my experience at JFK Airport.

The immigration queue was very long. People from many countries were standing, including Europeans. I was also waiting in line.

Suddenly, I noticed something interesting:

Some passengers were going to a self-service machine, scanning their passport, answering a few questions on the screen, and then going straight out after the process –

The officers at the counters were:

• Serious but professional

• Asking relevant questions

• Processing people efficiently

No one stopped me just to ask, “Oh, you are from Pakistan?” with a suspicious face, and then started talking rudely.
They did their job, I did mine, and I went ahead. That’s it.

This is what I call a system.

Visiting Dubai & UAE – The Contrast in Behaviour

Now let’s talk about the Gulf.

Whenever I have travelled to Dubai or other UAE countries, the difference in behaviour is visible from the very beginning – especially if you are a Pakistani passport holder.

1. Ignored and Unprofessional at the Counter

At many UAE airports, this is the typical scene:

• Officers are chatting with each other.

• They don’t even look at you properly.

• They keep you standing while they casually finish their own discussion.

As a traveller who has just come from a long flight, this is the first impression you get:
“You are not important.”

2. My Experience After a Long Flight from South Africa

Once, I was coming back from South Africa. It was a long, flight.

At the UAE airport:

• Nobody cared that people were exhausted.

• There was no sense of urgency or respect.

When I crossed immigration, one officer stopped me and asked in a very rude tone:

“You are from Pakistan? How long will you stay? Where is your booking?”

My stay was hardly for 24 hours, but the tone, the suspicion, the attitude—it was completely insulting.

Not a normal security check.
Not professional questioning.
Just arrogant behaviour because I am from Pakistan.

My Qatar Transit Story – Another Humiliating Experience

Recently, I was travelling to the USA for a family and friend visit. Unfortunately, I missed my flight and had to stay in Qatar to catch the next flight to Pakistan.

I thought, okay, I’ll just go out for a few hours, relax, maybe see the city. But what happened?

• The immigration officials and staff were extremely rude.

• My body was scanned on multiple machines.

• I was asked unnecessary questions, made to wait for 2–3 hours just to clear.

As a Pakistani traveller, I felt like a suspect, not a visitor.

And honestly, I asked myself:

“Is this worth it? Why should I revisit such countries, where basic human respect is missing?”

Now comes the main question:

When the UAE and some Gulf countries treat us like this, why are Pakistanis still obsessed with going there?

Here are some reasons I see every day in my consultancy work:

1. Easy & Quick Visa Perception
   People think: “Dubai visa to asaan hai, jaldi lag jata hai.”
   So they run after the “easy” option, even if the price is their self-respect.

2. Show-Off Culture
   Many people just want “Dubai stories” for social media, photos, Snapchat, TikTok.
   Burj Khalifa, malls, beaches – to show the world:
   “Dekho, main Dubai gaya tha.”

3. Job Dreams (Often Fake)
   A lot of agents sell fake dreams of high salaries in the UAE.
   In reality, many Pakistanis are:

   • Exploited

   • Underpaid

   • Living in extremely tough conditions

4. Lack of Awareness About Other Options
   Most people don’t know that:

   • European countries,

   • USA,

   • UK,

   • Ireland,

   • South Africa

   have their own issues, but they at least have systems, rights, complaint mechanisms and basic professionalism.

My Message to Pakistanis:

I am not saying that every Gulf person is bad or that every Western country is paradise.
No. Every place has good and bad people.

But based on my personal experience as a traveller and as a visa consultant, I want to honestly say this to my fellow Pakistanis:

Stop selling your self-respect for the illusion of an “easy” life in countries that don’t even treat you as a proper human.

Think about:

• How you are spoken to at immigration.

• How your body is handled during security.

• How your passport is looked at.

• How your questions are answered.

If, as a nation, we keep accepting insult as “normal”, then nothing will change.

Final Thoughts – Choose Respect Over Convenience

I receive many calls from clients every week who only want Dubai or the UAE. visa and honestly, I feel sad.

We have so many better options in terms of:

• Dignity

• Long-term future

• Education

• Legal rights

But as a nation, we are stuck in this Gulf obsession.

My humble request:

• At least think once before deciding your next destination.

• Don’t just follow the crowd.

• Ask yourself:

  “Will I get respect there?”
  “If something goes wrong, do I have any rights?”

Because no job, no trip, no shopping, no skyline is worth losing your dignity.