Passport services at Pakistani missions in the UAE have resumed, bringing relief to thousands of expats affected by a recent outage.

The Consulate General of Pakistan and Embassy of Pakistan confirmed that passport services are now fully operational as of Tuesday, May 5.

The disruption, which lasted around eight days, was caused by a technical fault at the Directorate General of Immigration and Passports (DGI & P) headquarters in Islamabad, leading to a temporary suspension of passport services at missions abroad from April 29.

What should applicants do now?

Officials have advised applicants to visit embassies and consulates during designated service hours to complete passport applications and renewals.

Wider impact across the Gulf

The outage affected Pakistani missions across multiple countries, including the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman and Kuwait, leaving many unable to process documents during the disruption.

Pakistanis expats can now move forward, easing pressure for those needing urgent travel or documentation.

Students across the UAE will temporarily return to distance learning from May 5 to May 8, as authorities take precautionary steps to ensure safety and continuity in education.

In Dubai, the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) confirmed that all private schools, nurseries and universities will switch to online learning during this period.

The move aligns with a nationwide directive from the Ministry of Education, which applies to both public and private institutions across the country.

Schools have been instructed to activate their remote learning plans, ensuring that classes, assignments and administrative operations continue without disruption.

What about universities?

The Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research also confirmed that higher education institutions will follow the same approach.

However, some programmes will continue on campus, particularly those that require:

• Clinical training
• Laboratory work
• Practical or field-based learning
• In-person examinations

Why the shift?

Officials said the decision is part of precautionary measures to safeguard students, staff and the wider community, with authorities continuing to monitor the situation closely.

The move follows a statement from the Ministry of Defence regarding the interception of aerial threats, after which authorities emphasised that safety systems responded effectively.

What parents and students should expect

For families, this means a short return to online classes, similar to previous remote learning setups. Schools are expected to provide schedules and guidance directly to parents and students.

Authorities said the situation will be reviewed on May 8, with the possibility of extending remote learning if required.

Delivery and courier companies in the UAE are set to benefit from a new support package aimed at keeping services running smoothly and easing cost pressures, according to the Postal Sector Regulatory Committee.

The measures target firms in the courier, express and parcels (CEP) sector, which plays a key role in supporting e-commerce and everyday deliveries across the country.

Under the new plan, companies will be allowed to defer all regulatory fees for the first quarter of 2026 to the second quarter, along with a waiver of penalties linked to that period.

Officials say the move is designed to improve cash flow, reduce financial strain, and ensure uninterrupted delivery services, particularly at a time when operators are dealing with rising costs, shipment delays, and growing demand.

For residents and expats, the decision helps support the reliability of delivery services, from online shopping to essential shipments, at a time when demand continues to rise.

The CEP sector remains a backbone of the UAE’s e-commerce ecosystem, enabling faster and more flexible deliveries for businesses and consumers alike.