Pakistan was the first Muslim-majority country to develop nuclear weapons (1998).
The Islamic Republic of Pakistan
PakistanSouthern Asia+1:00Hours ahead of the UAE
About the Country
General Information
National Identity
Official Language(s)Urdu, English
National CurrencyPakistani Rupee (PKR)
National Day(s)23 March (Pakistan Day)
Capitals
Political / Administrative CapitalIslamabad
Economic CapitalKarachi
Cultural CapitalLahore
Transport & Connectivity
Flight Duration from the UAE≈ 2 – 3 h
Direct flights
Primary AirportJinnah International Airport, Karachi (KHI)
Primary PortPort of Karachi (KPT)
Geography
Land Area-
Length of the Coastline~1,046 km
Highest PointK2 (Mount Godwin-Austen) (8,611 m)
Primary Inland Water Body / RiverIndus River (longest river in Pakistan, critical for irrigation, hydroelectric power, and central to national agriculture)
ClimateArid to semi-arid climate
Border Countries
IndiaAfghanistanIranChina
4Last Updated: July 2026Source: Internal Research
Key Facts
Pakistan has the highest paved international road in the world, the Karakoram Highway (KKH).
Sialkot, located in Pakistan, is the world’s largest producer of handsewn footballs.
Pakistan has the largest canal-based irrigation system in the world.
Queen Elizabeth II was the Queen of Pakistan until 1956.
Sugarcane juice is the national drink of Pakistan, where it is also known locally as "roh".
The Thar Desert, which extends into Pakistan's Sindh province, is one of the most densely populated deserts in the world.
Pakistan has one of the ten largest armed forces in the world by active personnel, at about 660,000 troops.
Physicist Abdus Salam became Pakistan's first Nobel laureate in 1979 and the first Muslim to win a Nobel Prize in science.
The Biafo–Hispar glacier system is one of the longest glacial systems outside the polar regions.
An earthquake measuring 7.6 on the Richter scale struck the Kashmir region in Pakistan on 8 October 2005.
Benazir Bhutto became the first female Prime Minister of Pakistan and of any Muslim-majority country.
Last Updated: July 2026Source: Internal Research
Economic Overview
Macroeconomic Snapshot
GDP, current prices-USD Billions
Real GDP growth-Annual percent change (%)
GDP per capita, current prices-USD per capita
Population-Millions of people
General government gross debt-% of GDP
Income levelWorld Bank classification-
Economic Comparison
| Indicator |  UAE | PakistanUAE | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GDP, current pricesUSD Billions | - | - | |
| GDP, PPPCurrent int$ | - | - | |
| Real GDP growthAnnual percent change (%) | - | - | |
| GDP per capita, current pricesUSD per capita | - | - | |
| PopulationMillions of people | - | - | |
| Unemployment rate% of total labor force | - | - | |
| Inflation rate (avg. consumer prices)Annual percent change (%) | - | - | |
| General government gross debt% of GDP | - | - | |
| Income levelWorld Bank classification | - | - |
Foreign Trade
No data available for this section yet.
Political Overview
Leadership
H.E. Asif Ali Zardari
Since March 2024
H.E. Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif
Since March 2024
H.E. Muhammad Ishaq Dar
Since March 2024
H.E. Muhammad Aurangzeb
Since March 2024
H.E. Ahad Cheema
Since March 2024
H.E. Khawaja Muhammad Asif
Since April 2022
Political Summary
Political System
Federal Parliamentary Republic
The Prime Minister is Head of Government and the President is Head of State, within a multi-party system and a bicameral Parliament.
Ruling Party
Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N): Centre-right (since 2024), in coalition with the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP): Centre-left, and the Pakistan Muslim League – Quaid-e-Azam (PML-Q): Centre-right
Main Opposition Force(s)
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI): Centre-right
Next Presidential Election
Expected in March 2029
Next Legislative Election
Expected in February 2029
Last Updated: May 2026Source: Internal Research
Membership in Key Organizations and Blocs
50Organizations
30Member
4Founding Member
5Partner, Observer or Participant
11Not a Member
No organisation matches.
Last Updated: September 2026Source: Official websites of the respective organizations
Competitiveness Indexes
| Index | Year | Rank Out of | Pakistan | UAE |
|---|
No index matches.
Bilateral Relations
Diplomatic Relations and Representation
Date of Establishment of Diplomatic Relations29 May 197254 years of relations
UAE Ambassador
H.E. Salem Mohammed Al ZaabiUAE Ambassador to Pakistan · ResidentForeign Ambassador
H.E. Shafqat Ali KhanAmbassador of Pakistan to the UAE · ResidentLast Updated: June 2026Source: MoFA; Internal Research
Flights by UAE Carriers
Passenger Flights
October 2026 figures246Total Weekly Passenger Flights
EYEtihad Airways42
EKEmirates49
FZflydubai85
G9Air Arabia70
Cargo Flights
October 2026 figures0Total Weekly Cargo Flights
EYEtihad Cargo0
EKEmirates SkyCargo0
Last Updated: October 2026Source: GCAA
Consular Information
Tourists | Residents | Students | Golden Visa Holders | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Pakistan Nationalsin the UAE | - | - | - | - |
UAE Citizensin Pakistan | - | - | - | - |
Main Agreements and MoUs
| Agreement / MOU | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
CEPAComprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement | Not Signed | Under negotiation.CEPA negotiations were held on 11 Feb 2026. |
IPPAInvestment Protection and Promotion Agreement | Ratified | Signed on 5 Nov 1995.Entered into force on 2 Dec 1997. |
DTADouble Taxation Avoidance Agreement | Ratified | Signed on 7 Feb 1993.Entered into force on 20 Nov 2000. |
ASAAir Services Agreement | Signed | Signed in Dec 1972.Updated on 4 Jun 2015. |
Ratified— Signed and entered into force
Signed— Signed, but entry into force or ratification is pending
Not Signed— No signed agreement exists
Last Updated: September 2026Source: Internal Research
UAE Foreign Assistance
| UAE Aid to Pakistan | Total Amount |
|---|---|
| Amount (USD Mn) | - |
Bilateral Visits
Official Visits from the UAE
- H.H. Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al NahyanPresident of the United Arab EmiratesDec2025
- H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al NahyanDeputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign AffairsApr2025
- H.H. Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al NahyanCrown Prince of Abu DhabiFeb2025
- H.E. Dr. Sultan bin Ahmed Al JaberMinister of Industry and Advanced TechnologyJul2023
- H.E. Suhail bin Mohammed Al MazroueiMinister of Energy and InfrastructureJun2023
- H.H. Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al NahyanPresident of the United Arab EmiratesJan2023
Official Visits to the UAE
- H.E. Asif Ali ZardariPresident of PakistanJan2026
- H.E. Muhammad Shehbaz SharifPrime Minister of PakistanJun2025
- H.E. Muhammad Shehbaz SharifPrime Minister of PakistanMay2024
- H.E. Anwaar-ul-Haq KakarCaretaker Prime Minister of PakistanNov2023
The officials’ titles shown reflect the positions held at the time of the visit.
Last Updated: April 2026Source: Internal Research
Trade
Non-Oil Bilateral Trade
-
Rank Among UAE's Trade Partners
-Non-oil trade partner of the UAE
-Source of UAE imports
-Destination for UAE exports
-Destination for UAE re‑exports
Key Trade Commodities
-
Foreign Direct Investment Flows
Jan 2021 – Sep 2026
FDI Inflows (Into the UAE)359.2USD Millions
Jan 2021 – Sep 2026
FDI Outflows (UAE Abroad)1,473.4USD Millions
Capex and jobs data include estimated values.
Last Updated: November 2026Source: fDi Markets
Major Companies and Investments
Major Pakistani Companies in the UAE
Engro CorporationEnergy, petrochemicals and agriculture
United Bank LimitedBanking and financial services
- ARY GroupMedia, gold and real estate
Lucky CementCement and industrials
Descon EngineeringEngineering and construction
Nishat GroupTextiles and retail
Habib Bank LimitedBanking
Major UAE Companies in Pakistan
Mubadala Investment CompanyOil refining and petroleum logistics
DP WorldPorts, logistics and rail freight
Last Updated: April 2026Source: Internal Research
Business Support
Dubai Chambers
Business Council(s)Pakistan Business Council
International Office(s)Karachi, Pakistan
Sharjah Chamber
Business Council(s)Pakistan Business Council
International Office(s)-
UAE-Pakistani Joint Business Council
Joint Business Council(s)Renewed in 2025, no meeting since.
Last Updated: September 2026Source: Various UAE Chambers
Cooperation Opportunities
Priority level: HIGH / MEDIUM / EMERGING, based on overall attractiveness to the UAE.
Last Updated: September 2026Source: Internal Research