UAE authorities have detained and deported thousands of Pakistani nationals, many of them Shia Muslims, without formal charges or access to their savings, according to testimonies published by New Lines Magazine, raising questions about sectarian profiling and security measures during the regional confrontation with Iran.
The reported removals—affecting as many as 15,000 Pakistanis according to community leaders—come as UAE-Pakistan relations face strain amid the US-Israeli military campaign against Iran and Pakistan's expanding mediation role in regional conflicts.
The accounts describe a consistent pattern: sudden arrests, phone confiscations, transfers between detention facilities, processing at the Al-Awir detention center, and rapid deportation to Pakistan. Many deportees report being unable to withdraw funds from UAE bank accounts or collect personal belongings before expulsion.
Systematic Pattern Raises Concerns
Sarah Ali told New Lines that her husband Taha was detained on April 12 during an overnight shift in Dubai after his name appeared in a police database.
"He was in complete shock," Ali said. "They showed him his photo and asked what he had done. Then they told him, 'We're really sorry, but we can't not take your phone away from you, because they're watching us.'"
No charges were presented against her husband, who was deported to Faisalabad less than a week after arrest. The rapid timeline left no opportunity to settle financial affairs or challenge the deportation through legal channels.
Many of those expelled had spent decades working in the Emirates, where Pakistani migrant remittances remain a critical source of income for families and foreign exchange for the home country. The sudden deportations threaten household economies across Pakistan.
Sectarian Dimension
Mohammad Amin Shaheedi, a senior Shia cleric and chief of Ummat-e-Wahida Pakistan, told New Lines that the UAE had launched "what appears to be an organized campaign to deport Shia individuals from the country."
Shaheedi estimated that roughly 5,000 Pakistani Shia families, comprising approximately 15,000 people, had been affected by the deportations.
"They were reportedly sent back with little more than the clothes on their backs, without being given the opportunity to withdraw their funds from banks or settle their financial affairs," he said.
Several deportees alleged that biometric fingerprint data collected during visits to Shia mosques and religious sites may have been used to identify community members for removal. The use of Emirates ID scans at religious sites for security tracking had been reported in previous years but never confirmed by authorities.
In the Emirates, as across the Gulf, ambitious visions drive rapid transformation—turning desert into global business hubs. But that transformation has consistently relied on massive migrant labor populations whose legal protections remain limited, particularly during security crises.
Security Rationale
The deportations appear connected to heightened UAE security concerns during the US-Iran confrontation. Emirati authorities view Iran's regional influence networks as potential security threats, particularly organizations with ideological or sectarian ties to Tehran.
The targeting of Shia Muslims suggests concerns about potential Iranian intelligence penetration or sympathizers who might provide information or support to Tehran during the conflict. However, no evidence of actual security threats from those deported has been made public.
"The UAE operates on a preventive security model," explained Dr. Kristian Ulrichsen of Rice University's Baker Institute. "Authorities prefer to remove potential risks before incidents occur rather than investigate specific threats. That approach inevitably sweeps up many innocent people."
The Emirates has historically maintained tight control over its large expatriate population, which outnumbers Emirati citizens roughly nine to one. During security crises, authorities have broad powers to detain and deport foreign nationals without judicial review.
Broader Migrant Vulnerabilities
The deportations highlight systemic vulnerabilities facing migrant workers in the Gulf. The kafala sponsorship system leaves workers dependent on employers for legal status, making them vulnerable to wage theft, passport confiscation, and restrictions on movement.
Those vulnerabilities intensified during the Iran crisis, when many workers were excluded from emergency evacuation measures and denied access to bomb shelters often reserved for citizens.
Delivery drivers, security guards, laborers, and other migrant workers remained exposed during attacks despite comprising the majority of the UAE workforce. Some faced arrest for posting videos of attacks online or comments that challenged official security narratives.
Detention Conditions
Deportees described harsh conditions at detention facilities, including strip searches, inadequate food, restraints, and physical abuse. The accounts are difficult to verify independently given UAE restrictions on journalist access to detention centers and deported individuals' fear of retaliation.
Pakistan's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tahir Andrabi denied the deportations when contacted by New Lines, suggesting diplomatic sensitivities around the issue. Pakistan relies heavily on remittances from Gulf workers and maintains close economic and security ties with the UAE, creating pressure to avoid public criticism of Emirati policies.
Economic and Diplomatic Implications
The mass deportations strain UAE-Pakistan relations at a sensitive moment. Pakistan has sought to maintain neutrality in regional conflicts while mediating between Iran and Gulf states. Islamabad's handling of the deportation issue tests those diplomatic balancing acts.
For the UAE, the deportations reflect the tension between maintaining security during regional crisis and preserving the business-friendly reputation that attracts global investment. Mass deportations without due process raise concerns among expatriate communities about legal protections and arbitrary authority.
"The UAE's economic model depends on attracting skilled professionals from around the world," noted Cinzia Bianco of the European Council on Foreign Relations. "High-profile deportations without clear legal process make professionals think twice about relocating to the Emirates, particularly those from Muslim-majority countries who may fear profiling."
As the regional crisis continues, the deportations demonstrate how security concerns can quickly override the economic and social integration that Gulf states have spent decades building with expatriate communities. For the thousands of deported Pakistani workers and their families, the transformation of desert into global business hub has revealed its limits when security fears collide with individual rights.
