If you’re Pakistani and you live in the UAE, chances are this place feels like a second home. The food is familiar, the faces are familiar, and somewhere in your family tree there’s probably an uncle or a cousin who moved here decades ago and never really left. That comfort is difficult to find in another country. Pakistan and the UAE have been building this relationship since before the Emirates even existed as a country, and the story behind it is worth knowing.
Pakistan Was One of the First Countries to Recognize the UAE
When the UAE was formally established in December 1971, Pakistan extended diplomatic recognition within just two days. It was one of the earliest nations to do so, and the gesture set the tone for a partnership that has only grown stronger over the decades. Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the UAE’s founding father, made multiple visits to Pakistan throughout his life and considered it his second home.
Pakistani Troops Helped Train the UAE’s Armed Forces
Long before the UAE was even officially formed, Pakistan was already involved in its defense. As early as 1968, Pakistani troops were training members of the Abu Dhabi defense forces at the request of Sheikh Zayed, stepping in as the British prepared to hand over command of the Trucial States. After the UAE’s formation, Pakistan established an armor training school there, trained commando battalions, and provided advisers and trainers to the UAE Air Force. At one point during the mid-1970s, more than half of all UAE Air Force pilots were Pakistani nationals.
PIA Helped Launch Emirates Airline
Here’s one most people don’t know. In 1985, Pakistan International Airlines played a direct role in founding Emirates. PIA provided technical and administrative support to the Dubai-based startup, leased it two aircraft to get off the ground, and helped it build its operational backbone. As a tribute to that contribution, Emirates chose Karachi as the destination for its very first flight.
Over 2 Million Pakistanis Call the UAE Home
Pakistanis make up the second-largest expat community in the UAE, with over 2 million nationals living and working across the Emirates. That number has been growing steadily, with tens of thousands arriving on work visas each year across sectors including construction, healthcare, IT, and finance. The UAE is also the second-largest source of remittances to Pakistan.
Pakistani Food Is Everywhere
You don’t have to look hard for a Pakistani restaurant in the UAE. From legendary spots like Ravi Restaurant in Satwa, which has been serving home-cooked Pakistani food since 1978, to Karachi export Student Biryani and the long-running Daily Restaurant chain, Pakistani cuisine has become a staple of UAE food culture. Ravi even landed a collaboration with Adidas in 2022, turning into a genuine Dubai landmark. Across Dubai, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi, and Ajman, Pakistani restaurants draw crowds from every nationality, not just the Pakistani community.
The UAE Has Repeatedly Stepped In During Pakistan’s Crises
When devastating floods hit Pakistan in 2010, the UAE launched the UAE Pakistan Assistance Program at a cost of $450 million, funding the construction of schools, hospitals, bridges, and water supply schemes across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The UAE has also deposited billions into Pakistan’s State Bank during periods of economic pressure, providing $3 billion in 2019 to support Pakistan’s foreign reserves.
Pakistan Is Now a Key Mediator in the UAE’s Region
The relationship has taken on new strategic weight in 2026. Pakistan has been acting as the primary diplomatic intermediary between the United States and Iran in negotiations over the Strait of Hormuz, a waterway critical to UAE trade and energy exports. With Pakistani officials shuttling between Tehran, Islamabad, and Washington, the country’s role as a trusted broker has only reinforced its standing in the Gulf.
