Emiratis can renew passports in 5 minutes at Abu Dhabi's Zayed Airport

Wessam Shawky, Staff Reporter

Emiratis travelling via Abu Dhabi’s Zayed International Airport (AUH) can easily renew their UAE passports if the passport is valid for less than six months or has expired, without having to leave the airport premises, according to the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Ports Security (ICP).

This can be done through the Customer Happiness Centre, which is available round the clock to ease procedures for travellers and enhance the position of Zayed International Airport as one of the most important international airports that provides integrated services to Emiratis, giving them a smooth and fast travel experience according to the highest standards, it said.

The service enables a new passport valid for up to 10 years to be issued in less than five minutes without the need for any additional documents other than the expired passport, it added, noting that this ensures that travelers complete their travel procedures smoothly and without delay.

The ICP pointed out that its office at Zayed International Airport not only provides the service of renewing Emiratis’ but also offers a range of other electronic services including amending travellers’ status and data and taking out entry and exit movements and visa and residence details.

This contributes to easing the travel experience and providing integrated solutions for travelers, it said.

The ICP affirmed that the passport renewal service is available 24 hours a day at Zayed International Airport to ensure that the necessary support is provided to Emiratis at any time.

This reflects the ICP’s continuous efforts to enhance the efficiency of procedures at border crossings and provide innovative solutions that contribute to raising the level of customer satisfaction.

The UAE has retained its position as the most powerful passport for the fourth consecutive year, according to the Passport Index.
It has achieved a total score of 180 points, which enables its citizens to access more than 90% of the world's countries.

A total of 133 countries accept UAE passports without the need for a visa, while 47 countries offer the option of obtaining a visa upon arrival. In contrast, only 18 countries require that visas be arranged in advance.