Travelling with kids can be hard. The long queues at the immigration or baggage drop can be a nightmare for parents and kids. Well, not anymore! Dubai airport has now launched designated passport control counters for the little ones. How cute it that! So, what’s the advantage of these new counters? Read on to find out.
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Young travellers no longer have to go through the menace of waiting in long queues. Dubai’s General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) said in a statement that it had added new passport control platforms, specifically dedicated to the children. The counters are made for children aged four to 12.
The new counters boast a friendly space-themed design and are located in the arrivals hall of Terminal 3 at DXB. And, the best part is that kids get an opportunity to stamp their own passports at these counters.
In addition, the counters will also have a little surprise on special occasions. Wondering how? Well, the young travellers will be received by ‘Salem and Salama’, two mascots wearing the uniform of Dubai GDRFA employees on special days. Salem and Salama are the special mascots designed to build friendships and create happiness for young visitors right from when they step into the city, GDRFA explained.
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Well, Dubai is the only country which can come up with such cool initiatives for the well-being of residents. And, this is not the first time DXB has launched something for the betterment of the travellers. Recently, a new 24 -hour passport renewal service was opened at Dubai and Abu Dhabi airports. The service can be used to renew, obtain new, and to replace lost or damaged Emirati passports. Read on to find out all about this new service.
how can you renew your passport at dXB?
Firstly, there are five channels through which UAE citizens can apply to obtain, renew, or get a replacement for a lost or damaged passport. These include:
- The General Departments of Residency and Foreigners Affairs/Citizenship Section.
- The Nationality and Residence portal (eChannels).
- The online passport service for citizens.
- The Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Ports Security (ICP).
- Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah Airports
The General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs at Abu Dhabi and Dubai airports is now available 24 hours. So, in case you need to renew your passport, lost your Emirati passport, or have a damaged one- all you need to do is contact the consulate and you’ll have a new passport in no time.
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Also, do note that UAE passports are valid for five years. Owners must apply for renewal along with three supporting documents which include a family book or a copy of it, the original ID or a copy, and a recent personal photo. Besides, you will also need to hand over the old passport.
In case you have more queries, you can contact the General Departments of Residency and Foreigners Affairs in the concerned emirate, or contact the call centre of the ICP at 600522222. For inquiries about passport services in Dubai, they can contact the Amer service in Dubai at the number 8005111.
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