UAE traveller renews passport in just 8 minutes at Dubai airport. Watch

An Emirati traveler discovered his passport was nearly expired just before a planned trip, necessitating an urgent passport renewal. In a viral video, the traveler recounted how he was directed to the passport renewal service at Dubai International Airport, expecting the process to take about 10 minutes. To his surprise, the renewal was completed in a mere eight minutes.

The traveler credited the efficiency of the authorities and Dubai airport, expressing his pride in the UAE and gratitude for the prompt service. This incident highlights a recent expansion of passport renewal options for Emirati citizens by the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security, which took effect in August 2025.

Under the new policy, renewals are now possible when one year or less remains before expiry, compared to the previous requirement of six months or less. The UAE passport remains one of the strongest globally, ranking first in the 2026 Passport Index compiled by Arton Capital. Emirati passport holders can travel to 138 destinations without a visa and obtain a visa on arrival in 44 more, with only 16 requiring a visa beforehand.

This places the UAE passport at the top of the index, with France and Spain sharing second place and countries such as Singapore, Belgium, and Luxembourg ranking third.