BLITZ BUREAU
THE UAE passport authority has officially announced the extension of the validity period of Emirati passports to 10 years, as per a Khaleej Times report. According to the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs, and Ports Security (ICP), this new service will be available to citizens aged 21 and above from July 8. Earlier, the validity of the passport was for five years from the date of issue.
The new 10-year passport service will also reduce the customer journey from two trips to just one trip every 10 years, supporting the government’s efforts to save time for citizens. Major General Suhail Juma Al Khaili, Director General of Identity and Passports at the Authority, clarified that the 10- year validity is limited to citizens aged 21 and above. In contrast, the 5-year passport will continue to be issued for those under 21 years of age.
The new 10-year Emirati passports will be issued through the same established procedures and delivery channels as the current passports. Citizens can apply for the new service when their existing passports expire.This landmark announcement underscores the UAE government’s commitment to enhancing the travel experience and overall quality of life for its citizens.
Meanwhile, the UAE passport has grown stronger in the past year, rising by two positions to 11th, giving visafree access to 183 countries, according to Henley & Partner’s 2024 Passport Index released on Wednesday. The UAE also remained the biggest climber on the Index over the past decade, adding an impressive 106 destinations to its visa-free score since 2014, resulting in a massive leap of 44 places in the ranking from 55th to 11th position.
The UAE passport also maintained its top position in the region, followed by Qatar (53), Kuwait (55), Bahrain (59), Oman (60) and Saudi Arabia (61). Passport holders of Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman and Saudi Arabia have visa-free access to 108, 102, 91, 90 and 89 countries, respectively.
Afghanistan (104), Syria (103), Iraq (102), Pakistan (101) and Yemen (100) ranked at the bottom of the Henley & Partner’s 2024 Passport Index. Bangladesh was ranked 97th, rising one position, while India’s passport was ranked 80, rising by three positions.
