The Embassy of Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates announced on Tuesday, May 5, that passport processing services at its premises have resumed following a brief suspension. Applicants can now visit the embassy to apply for new passports or renew existing travel documents, according to an official update.
The service had been halted on April 29 due to technical and maintenance issues. At the time, the embassy advised Pakistani nationals living in the UAE to either submit applications online or wait for further instructions. Officials had assured the community that they would be informed once services were restored.
With operations now back in place, the embassy has reopened its counters to facilitate in-person applications. The resumption comes shortly after the mission observed a public holiday on May 1 for Labour Day, remaining closed that Friday before reopening on Monday, May 4.
A similar development has been reported in Saudi Arabia, where the Pakistani Embassy confirmed that passport services have also resumed from May 5. Applicants in the Kingdom can now visit the mission for passport-related matters, easing concerns among expatriates who rely on timely document processing for travel and employment needs.
The temporary disruption in services had affected a large number of Pakistani citizens residing in both countries. Many had expressed concern over delays in renewals and new applications, particularly those with urgent travel plans or expiring documents.
While services have restarted in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, the situation remains different in Qatar. The Embassy of Pakistan in Doha announced on May 3 that passport processing at its premises has been suspended until further notice. In a statement shared on social media platform X, the mission said the interruption is linked to technical issues at the Passport Headquarters in Islamabad.
Officials in Qatar stated that updates regarding the restoration of services will be communicated through official channels. They also expressed regret over the inconvenience caused to the community.
The recent disruptions highlight the reliance of overseas missions on centralised systems for passport issuance. Any technical fault at the headquarters level can affect services across multiple countries, impacting thousands of applicants.
For now, Pakistani nationals in the UAE and Saudi Arabia can resume their visits to embassy offices for passport services, while those in Qatar continue to await further updates.
