Thousands of Bangladeshi expatriates working in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are facing uncertainty after reports emerged that their employment visas are being automatically cancelled without prior notice. The issue has created widespread concern among an estimated 1.2 million Bangladeshi workers living in the UAE.
Many expatriates who returned to Bangladesh on vacation have reportedly discovered at airports that their UAE visas had already been cancelled, despite having valid employment contracts and no notification from their employers. Fearing they may lose their jobs, many workers are now rushing to return to the UAE before encountering further complications.
According to existing UAE labor regulations, an employer may cancel an employee’s visa after the termination of employment. Visas may also be cancelled if a company shuts down, loses its business license, changes sponsorship without the employee’s knowledge, if the worker remains outside the UAE for an extended period, abandons the workplace without authorization, or becomes involved in labor disputes or legal cases.
However, many affected workers claim that none of these circumstances apply to them, yet their visas have still been cancelled. The exact reason behind the growing number of cancellations remains unclear.
Officials at the Bangladesh Embassy and the Bangladesh Consulate General in Dubai have also been unable to provide a definitive explanation.
Mohammad Rasheduzzaman, the Consul General of the Bangladesh Consulate in Dubai, said:
“Speaking with me will not resolve the matter. The Ambassador will be able to provide further information.”
Meanwhile, Bangladesh’s Minister of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment, Ariful Haque Chowdhury, stated that the Bangladeshi Ambassador to the UAE has scheduled an official meeting with the country’s relevant authorities on Monday, July 27, to discuss the issue.
The minister also noted that the matter would be pursued through diplomatic channels in coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
According to the minister, the issue does not affect only Bangladeshi workers but also expatriates from Pakistan, Nepal, and several other countries. He expressed hope that discussions with the UAE’s Ministry of Human Resources would clarify the reasons behind the visa cancellations and help identify a solution.
Authorities have advised expatriates to verify the current status of their visas through the UAE’s ICP (Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security) or GDRFA (General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs) online systems before making travel plans.
