Passport services for Pakistani nationals have been temporarily suspended at missions in the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia following a major technical glitch, officials confirmed on Wednesday. The Embassy of Pakistan, Abu Dhabi and the Consulate General of Pakistan, Dubai announced that in-person passport processing has halted due to system failure and ongoing maintenance. However, authorities have not provided a clear timeline for full restoration.
Officials cite technical disruption across region
According to officials, the outage began earlier this week and affected multiple Pakistani missions across Gulf countries. A report by Gulf News cited an official saying the disruption started Wednesday morning, impacting system functionality. Meanwhile, the Embassy of Pakistan, Riyadh confirmed that passport services would remain suspended on April 29 and 30 due to technical maintenance.
Authorities explained that the suspension aims to address system faults and restore normal operations as quickly as possible. Some officials suggested services could resume soon if technical issues are resolved promptly. Nevertheless, uncertainty remains for applicants awaiting processing.
Applicants advised to use online options
In response, officials have urged Pakistani nationals to avoid visiting missions for passport-related services during the disruption. Instead, they encouraged applicants to use online systems where available. Those unable to access digital platforms have been asked to wait for further updates.
Additionally, missions confirmed they will remain closed on May 1 for Labour Day and will reopen on May 4. Officials clarified that the holiday closure is unrelated to the current outage. As authorities work to resolve the issue, updates will be shared with the community.
