Hey everyone! Trying to set realistic expectations here. I did my medical and biometrics in Dubai last week and the waiting is driving me a bit crazy. I know the official timeline exists but real life is always different. How long did yours actually take from medical appointment to holding the physical card? Did you get it faster by collecting from a typing centre versus home delivery? Drop your timeline and emirate below, would love to build a little community reference here. Reply away!
Great idea for a thread, this kind of real-world data is so useful!
My experience in Dubai: roughly 7 to 10 working days from medical to the card being ready. Got an SMS notification, then collected from an ICP-approved typing centre the same day. Super smooth.
A few things that seem to affect timing based on what people share here:
- Peak periods (start of school year, post-summer) can stretch it to 2 to 3 weeks
- Home delivery through ICP’s smart app adds a couple of days but honestly pretty convenient
- Renewal vs first-time issuance can differ too
- Abu Dhabi and Sharjah members have mentioned slightly different wait times
You can track your application status directly on the ICP website (icp.gov.ae) so you’re not just staring at your phone waiting for that SMS.
What emirate are you based in, and was this a new visa or a renewal?