Denied Dubai visa, Pakistani boxers missed fight against India
Both fighters were confirmed participants on the India vs Pakistan card at The Meydan Hotel in Dubai, a high-profile event pitting fighters from both countries against each other. Their matches have reportedly been cancelled after Dubai authorities did not approve their visa applications.
The fighters say the rejection appears to be linked specifically to their shared first name, Ali, which has reportedly triggered added scrutiny in some recent UAE visa cases involving Pakistani nationals.
Pakistani travellers named Ali have separately reported facing unusual delays, detentions and visa rejections when applying to enter the UAE this year, fuelling public discussion about whether the name itself is being flagged during processing. Neither Pakistani nor UAE authorities have issued an official explanation confirming or denying this pattern.
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Both boxers have represented Pakistan internationally on multiple previous occasions, including bouts in the United States, Malaysia, and Thailand, without encountering similar visa issues.
There is a clear gap in attention between the Indian and Pakistani fighters on the card, with Indian competitors drawing backing from several well-known social media personalities, while awareness of the Pakistani fighters' situation has remained limited domestically.
Ali Abbas and Ali Husnain have appealed to the Pakistani government to intervene and help resolve the visa issue, saying they have received no response so far. It remains unclear whether the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Pakistan Boxing Council, or Pakistan's mission in the UAE has taken up the matter on their behalf.
