UAE Expels Hundreds of Pakistani Shiites Amid Regional Tensions

DID Press: Hundreds of Pakistani Shiite workers have reportedly been expelled from United Arab Emirates in recent months, returning to Pakistan without luggage, jobs, or access to their savings, according to an investigative report by Reuters.

The report says the expulsions have created severe economic and social distress in parts of Pakistan, particularly in Punjab’s Chakwal district, where over 100 affected workers have returned after years of employment in the UAE. Many said they were not allowed to collect personal belongings or withdraw funds before deportation.

Based on migration records and interviews with 24 deportees, Reuters reports that as many as 7,500 Pakistani Shiites may have been removed since late February, coinciding with heightened regional tensions following military escalation involving Iran, the United States, and Israel. However, the UAE government has not commented on the allegations or the criteria used for deportations.

Pakistani authorities have denied any sectarian basis for the expulsions, stating that removals were due to violations of UAE law. Rights groups, including Human Rights Watch, have described the reports as “deeply concerning” and are reviewing the claims.

Officials from Shiite community organizations in Pakistan say the deportations have intensified since regional military escalation, leaving thousands of families facing sudden financial collapse.