With the holy month of Ramadan expected to begin around 19 February 2026, the Philippine Embassy in Abu Dhabi and the Philippine Consulate-General in Dubai & the Northern Emirates have published revised working hours that will apply throughout the lunar month.
From 19 February, both missions will open Sunday to Thursday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., with cashiers closing at 1 p.m. Services affected include passport renewals, civil-registry filings, notarisations, visa issuances and the popular Overseas Voter registration desk. No afternoon sessions will be offered, and Friday-Saturday weekend closures remain unchanged.
Embassy officials said the shorter schedule is designed to balance efficient service delivery with the needs of Muslim and non-Muslim staff who will be observing the daytime fast. The missions handled more than 450,000 transactions in 2025, and peak volumes are expected in the run-up to Ramadan as Filipino residents prepare for spring travel.
![Philippine Embassy Cuts Operating Hours for Ramadan 2026, Urges Filipinos in UAE to Plan Ahead]()
Travellers who need help securing visas or travel documents during the shortened Ramadan hours can simplify the process through VisaHQ. The company’s UAE portal (https://www.visahq.com/united-arab-emirates/) offers step-by-step online applications, document verification and courier services, allowing applicants to meet earlier cut-off times without extra trips to the embassy or consulate.
For global mobility teams, the announcement means any pending passport applications, legalisations or Special Power of Attorney (SPA) issuances should be advanced by at least a week to avoid disruption. Companies moving employees between the UAE and the Philippines are advised to secure travel-exit clearances (OECs) early, as on-the-day processing may be curtailed.
The embassy also reminded the 650,000-strong Filipino community that emergency services—including assistance-to-nationals hotlines—will remain 24/7, and that highly time-sensitive documents such as repatriation papers will be prioritised even during reduced hours.
From 19 February, both missions will open Sunday to Thursday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., with cashiers closing at 1 p.m. Services affected include passport renewals, civil-registry filings, notarisations, visa issuances and the popular Overseas Voter registration desk. No afternoon sessions will be offered, and Friday-Saturday weekend closures remain unchanged.
Embassy officials said the shorter schedule is designed to balance efficient service delivery with the needs of Muslim and non-Muslim staff who will be observing the daytime fast. The missions handled more than 450,000 transactions in 2025, and peak volumes are expected in the run-up to Ramadan as Filipino residents prepare for spring travel.
Travellers who need help securing visas or travel documents during the shortened Ramadan hours can simplify the process through VisaHQ. The company’s UAE portal (https://www.visahq.com/united-arab-emirates/) offers step-by-step online applications, document verification and courier services, allowing applicants to meet earlier cut-off times without extra trips to the embassy or consulate.
For global mobility teams, the announcement means any pending passport applications, legalisations or Special Power of Attorney (SPA) issuances should be advanced by at least a week to avoid disruption. Companies moving employees between the UAE and the Philippines are advised to secure travel-exit clearances (OECs) early, as on-the-day processing may be curtailed.
The embassy also reminded the 650,000-strong Filipino community that emergency services—including assistance-to-nationals hotlines—will remain 24/7, and that highly time-sensitive documents such as repatriation papers will be prioritised even during reduced hours.
