Gulf business travel guides from Pakistan
Short flights, six visa systems and two working weeks. Our guides to the GCC cover every Gulf state and the cities Pakistani companies visit most, with visa routes for Pakistani passport holders and the date each was checked.
The Gulf at a glance for Pakistani travellers
| Country | Visa route for Pakistanis | Working week | Main airports | Currency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UAE | Visit visa before travel via airline, hotel, agent or organiser; no visa on arrival | Mon–Fri | DXB, AUH, SHJ | AED |
| Saudi Arabia | Business visit visa requested by a Saudi host; Visiting Investor e-visa | Sun–Thu | RUH, JED, DMM | SAR |
| Qatar | Host business visa, Hayya A1, or visa on arrival for eligible short visits | Sun–Thu | DOH | QAR |
| Oman | ROP eVisa; business visitors usually sponsored | Sun–Thu | MCT | OMR |
| Kuwait | Commercial visit visa requested by a Kuwaiti company | Sun–Thu | KWI | KWD |
| Bahrain | eVisa (Pakistan eligible) or business visa via a Bahraini guarantor | Sun–Thu | BAH | BHD |
UAE: Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah
The UAE visa is federal and covers all seven emirates. The choice of base city matters more: Dubai for trading, regional offices and most shows; Abu Dhabi for government, energy and ADNEC events; Sharjah for industry, free zones and lower costs.
Saudi Arabia: Riyadh, Jeddah and the Eastern Province
Saudi Arabia is the largest Gulf market for Pakistani firms. Business visas start with a request from a Saudi host, and the Hajj season affects travel to Jeddah and Makkah each spring.
The smaller Gulf states
Each has its own system. Qatar offers several routes, Oman runs everything through the Royal Oman Police eVisa portal, Kuwait needs a Kuwaiti company to request the visa, and Bahrain has an eVisa list that includes Pakistan as well as a sponsored business visa.
Doha
West Bay, Lusail and entry routes.
Open guideQatar business visa
Host visa, Hayya or arrival.
Open guideMuscat
Muscat, Sohar and Duqm.
Open guideOman business visa
ROP eVisa routes.
Open guideKuwait City
Districts and oil-sector visits.
Open guideKuwait business visa
The commercial visit visa.
Open guideManama
Finance and the causeway.
Open guideBahrain business visa
eVisa or business visa.
Open guideUAE and GCC overview
Our Gulf service page.
Open guideWhat to plan on any Gulf trip
- The visa route for each country, and who must file it
- The working week in each country, so meetings do not fall on a weekend
- Show weeks, when hotels fill across the city
- Ramadan hours, expected from around 8 February to 9 March 2027
- Polio vaccination certificates for travellers from Pakistan
- Causeway and road links where trips cross borders
Planning Gulf trips since 2020
Go Global has handled 100,000+ trips since 2020, and the Gulf is where most of them go. Our team works 24/7, so travellers who hit a cancelled flight, a visa question at the airport or a change of meeting reach a person on WhatsApp at any hour.
Gulf travel questions
Which Gulf countries need a visa before travel for Pakistanis?
All six GCC states require ordinary Pakistani passport holders to arrange entry before travel, except where Qatar’s visa on arrival applies to eligible short visits. Each country’s guide explains the routes.
Which Gulf countries work Monday to Friday?
The UAE. Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait and Bahrain work Sunday to Thursday. Sharjah’s government works Monday to Thursday.
Can one trip cover several Gulf countries?
Yes. Common combinations are Dubai with Abu Dhabi, Riyadh with Dubai, and the Eastern Province with Bahrain. Each country needs its own visa, and we plan the route and visas as one trip.
Do these guides replace official advice?
No. Each guide shows its official sources and the date checked. Rules change, so we confirm them for every trip.
Planning a Gulf business trip?
Tell us who is travelling, when and why. We reply with a plan, the visa route and a quote. Go Global has handled 100,000+ trips since 2020, and our team works 24/7 for travellers on the road. Email insights@goglobal.pk or WhatsApp 0320-4111222.