An Emirati citizen who discovered just one day before travelling that his passport did not have sufficient validity to enter his destination obtained a new passport in just eight minutes at Dubai International Airport. A video recounting the traveller’s experience has also attracted attention on social media.

The traveller said his passport had about one month of validity remaining, while his destination required at least six months. He was told the fastest option was to use the passport renewal service at Dubai International Airport, with the process expected to take around 10 minutes. However, he said it was completed in eight minutes.

After receiving his passport, he expressed surprise at the speed of the service and thanked the relevant authorities and Dubai International Airport for making it available. The case highlights the urgent services available to Emirati citizens shortly before travel.

The UAE also changed its passport renewal rules for citizens on August 18, 2025. Under the new regulations, Emirati citizens can apply for renewal when their passports have one year or less remaining. Previously, renewal was generally available only when six months or less remained before expiry.

The change is intended to provide more proactive services and reduce the likelihood of travellers encountering passport validity issues close to their departure dates, as many countries require passports to be valid for at least six months upon entry.

The UAE passport ranked first this year. According to the index, holders can travel to 138 destinations without obtaining a visa in advance and receive a visa on arrival in a further 44 destinations.