A number of Afghan businessmen and workers engaged in trade and business in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) held a protest in Kabul calling for visas to be issued by the United Arab Emirates.

After the political change in Afghanistan, the business people say, they could not return to the UAE and they have not been able to get visas. “There are people here whose families and businesses are in the UAE, and most of their money and businesses are closed there,” said Mominyar Rahmani, a protester.

The protesters are asking the UAE to provide them with visas.

“Currently, new visas and visitation visas are both closed. We ask the UAE to extend our visas, which were rejected after the political change, so that we can continue our business,” said Nawaz Shah Karimi, a protester.

“My two sewing shops are in the UAE, believe me, I lost a lot during this time,” said Dost Mohammad, another protester.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) embassy has not yet commented on the matter.