DUBAI: Travellers and residents in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) should brace for disruptions as the country’s Immigration departments will remain closed from 4 to 8 June 2025 in observance of Eid Al Adha.
This five-day pause in operations could lead to processing delays for visa applications, residency permits, and other immigration-related matters. The closure aligns with the countrywide celebrations and public holidays, which include both Arafat Day and the Eid festivities.
The shutdown affects a wide range of services vital for expatriates, tourists, and UAE residents, with potential ripple effects before and after the closure period. Here’s a breakdown of what to expect and how best to prepare.
Visa and Residency Delays
From 4 to 8 June, all standard services, including new visa issuance, status amendments, and residency renewals, will be temporarily halted. Anyone who has recently submitted a visa application or is planning to file one is advised to do so as early as possible. Delays are expected to compound in the days following the reopening of immigration offices on 9 June 2025.
Applications currently in progress may be caught in the system without further action until services resume, affecting both long-term residency and short-stay visas. Residents approaching the end of their visa grace periods could face penalties if their matters are not settled in time.
Entry, Exits, and Support Access
Although airports and land border controls will continue to operate for travellers with valid visas or visa-on-arrival status, staffing for non-routine matters will be minimal. Immigration officers handling special cases or on-the-spot visa clarifications may not be available during this period.
Moreover, customer service helplines, inquiry counters, and fine payment centres will either run with skeletal staff or remain fully shut. This includes services for overstay fine payments, emergency status rectifications, and related procedural matters.
People entering or exiting the UAE during the Eid break are advised to carry all essential documents, including copies of visa approvals and passport pages. Unresolved visa issues could lead to travel delays or entry refusal.
Emergency Scenarios
In case of immigration emergencies, travellers may attempt to reach out to their respective embassies or consulates based in the UAE. However, assistance may be limited as consular offices themselves could operate on reduced hours during Eid.
The Immigration departments are expected to resume full operations on Monday, 9 June 2025. Visa holders and applicants should prepare for slower-than-usual processing times in the following days as services work through accumulated requests.
Until then, monitoring updates from official UAE government portals and immigration services websites is strongly recommended for the latest developments or any changes to the announced closure.
Eid Holidays in UAE
In a related announcement, the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) has confirmed that private sector employees will enjoy an official paid holiday from 5 to 8 June. This adds to the overall slowdown in administrative and business operations across the country during the holiday window.
Given this national holiday, travellers should not rely on last-minute approvals or status updates. Individuals needing to change visa categories, cancel old permits, or extend tourist stays must complete these steps before 3 June to avoid complications.
Those planning international travel into or out of the UAE are advised to avoid the holiday window entirely unless their paperwork is already finalised.
