Pakistanis deported from the UAE amid Iran war

26-May-2026

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Amid escalating US-Iran conflict and strained UAE-Pakistan ties, thousands of Pakistani Shia expatriates in the UAE face alleged arbitrary deportations linked to regional tensions and historic Gulf suspicions of Shia communities. 

The UAE reportedly targets Pakistani Shias amid fears of Iranian influence and retaliation over Pakistan's neutral stance in the war. 

Deportees describe sudden detentions, biometric surveillance, and limited legal recourse, disrupting lives and livelihoods of a vital diaspora supporting Pakistan's economy through remittances.