By Staff Reporter
Dubai: Passport processing services for Pakistani nationals abroad have been temporarily suspended following a major technical glitch that disrupted operations on Wednesday.
The Pakistan Embassy in the UAE confirmed that in-person passport services at both the embassy in Abu Dhabi and the consulate in Dubai have been put on hold due to system malfunction and maintenance issues. No clear timeline has been given for when services will fully resume.
According to officials, the disruption is not limited to the UAE. Pakistani missions in several countries—including Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states—have also been affected, leaving many expatriates unable to access essential passport services.
An embassy spokesperson stated that the online system experienced a sudden breakdown earlier in the day, forcing authorities to suspend all in-person processing immediately. However, there is cautious optimism that services could resume as early as Thursday, depending on how quickly the issue is resolved.
In the meantime, Pakistani nationals have been advised not to visit embassy or consulate offices for passport-related matters. Instead, applicants are encouraged to use the online passport application system for renewals and new applications where possible. Those unable to access the digital platform are advised to wait for further guidance.
The embassy has assured the community that updates will be provided as soon as services are restored.
Separately, officials noted that the mission will remain closed on Friday, May 1, 2026, in observance of Labour Day, and will reopen on Monday, May 4. This scheduled closure is unrelated to the current technical issue.
