Pakistan Passport Services Suspended in UAE 2026: Technical Glitch at Missions

Pakistani missions in the United Arab Emirates have announced a temporary suspension of all in-person passport processing services starting Wednesday, April 29, 2026. The disruption, caused by a significant technical failure in the central server system managed by the Directorate General of Immigration and Passports (DGI&P) in Islamabad, has affected overseas Pakistanis across the Gulf region.

System Failure Affects Thousands

The technical glitch has led to a complete halt in processing biometric data and issuance of new passports at both the Pakistan Embassy in Abu Dhabi and the Consulate General in Dubai. Officials confirmed that the online system experienced a breakdown early Wednesday morning, necessitating an immediate suspension of services to prevent a backlog and manage maintenance requirements.

The suspension impacts approximately 800 to 1,000 applicants who visit these missions daily for urgent travel and residency-related documentation.

Key Information for Applicants

Alternative: Online Passport Renewal

While in-person visits are discouraged during this disruption, the embassy has advised citizens to use the official e-Sahulat online portal for renewals where possible.

• Eligibility: Only renewals for existing passports can typically be processed through the digital platform.
• New Applications: First-time applicants or those with lost passports who require biometric verification at the mission must wait for the system to be restored.

Holiday Notice

Separately from the technical issue, Pakistani missions in the UAE will observe a public holiday for Labour Day on Friday, May 1, 2026. The missions are scheduled to reopen on Monday, May 4, 2026, which is also the tentative date for the resumption of passport services, provided the technical faults are resolved by the teams in Islamabad.

Advisory: Pakistani nationals are urged to monitor the official social media channels of the Embassy and Consulate for real-time updates before visiting the premises.

For further assistance or emergency cases, citizens can contact the embassy’s designated helpline or visit the official Universitaly portal for education-related visa queries.