PACI Office Locations and Timings in Kuwait (2026 Guide)
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Few things waste a day in Kuwait like driving to the Public Authority for Civil Information (PACI) and finding the hall closed, the shift over or the gate guard asking for an appointment you never booked. PACI runs its main office in South Surra and branches in Ahmadi (South Sabahiya) and Jahra, and each one works to set shifts that changed more than once in 2026.
I compared official e-government service pages, Arab Times and Gulf News reports on 2026 working hours, and the guides people in Kuwait use most, then put the locations, timings and visit rules in one place. Before you go, check whether your card is even ready with our Civil ID status checker, so you do not make the trip for nothing.
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Quick answers to the most common Kuwait Civil ID and PACI questions.
Where Are PACI Offices in Kuwait?
In 2026 PACI serves the public from three locations:
| Office | Area | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Head office | South Surra, Ministries Area, Hawalli Governorate | All services, Kuwaitis, GCC nationals and expats |
| Ahmadi branch | South Sabahiya, Ahmadi Governorate | People living in the south |
| Jahra branch | Jahra Governorate | People living in the north and west |
Arab Times listed exactly these three when PACI returned to full hours on 3 May 2026. Older guides still mention offices in Kaifan, Liberation Tower or Adailiya, and a few list Fahaheel or Mangaf. None of those appear in the 2026 list, so do not plan a visit around them. The branch list on the Meta booking portal is the safest guide to which office offers your service.
PACI Head Office in South Surra
The head office is the main PACI building in South Surra, in the Ministries Area off the Sixth Ring Road. Guides describe it as near the ministries complex and the Ministry of Health headquarters. When you use a ride app, pin the PACI building itself rather than the ministries complex, so you are not dropped at the wrong gate.
Prefer to watch? This video shows a visit to the PACI head office in South Surra:
The head office handles almost every PACI service. The official e-government page for GCC citizens sends them to the Citizens and GCC Registration Office on the first floor. The building also holds the largest group of card collection machines and, according to PACI’s Kuwait Mobile ID pages, 19 self-service kiosks. If you are a first-time expat who did not choose home delivery, guides say your card is usually collected here.
PACI Ahmadi Branch (South Sabahiya)
The Ahmadi branch sits in South Sabahiya and serves the southern areas such as Ahmadi, Fahaheel and Mangaf. Arab Times calls it the Ahmadi (South Sabahiya) branch, and guides use both names, so treat them as the same office.
The branch holds card collection machines and offers many routine services, but not every service. Guides describe easier parking than at South Surra and the Sixth Ring Road.
PACI Jahra Branch
The Jahra branch serves the north and west of the country. Card collection machines have been installed there since at least 2020, when Times Kuwait reported 15 machines at Jahra and 40 at the head office.
Jahra is the one branch where the 2026 split is clearly reported: Arab Times said Kuwaiti citizens are received in the morning and non-Kuwaitis in the evening. If you live in Jahra, Saad Al Abdullah or nearby areas, this branch can save a long drive.
Which PACI Office Serves Citizens, GCC Nationals and Expats?
PACI serves everyone at the head office, but it separates groups by time and counter:
| Group | Where | When |
|---|---|---|
| Kuwaiti citizens | Head office or nearest branch | Morning shift |
| GCC nationals | Citizens and GCC Registration Office, first floor, head office | Morning, 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM |
| Expat residents | Head office or nearest branch | Mainly the evening shift |
| Card collection | Machines at all three offices | Both shifts |
Most guides say citizens are served from about 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM and residents from about 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM. This split is how the counters work, not a strict ban: your Meta booking shows the exact shift you can choose for your service.
PACI Working Hours in 2026
PACI works Sunday to Thursday and closes on Friday, Saturday and official holidays. The hours changed twice this year:
- March 2026: Civil Service Commission Circular No. 7 of 2026 cut public sector hours and suspended evening shifts across government bodies, citing regional security conditions.
- 3 May 2026: PACI returned to its full schedule, again under a Civil Service Commission circular.
Since 3 May 2026, the reported hours are:
| Service | Morning | Evening |
|---|---|---|
| Card collection (all three offices) | 7:30 AM to 1:00 PM | 2:00 PM to 7:00 PM |
| Citizens and GCC counters | About 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM | Not usual |
| Residents counters | Not usual | About 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM |
Sources differ on the exact start and end of the counter shifts (some say 7:30 AM, others 3:30 PM for the evening). Guides also warn that security may stop issuing tokens 30 to 60 minutes before closing. Treat the slot time on your Meta booking as the real time.
PACI Ramadan and Holiday Timings
In Ramadan, government offices work shorter days. For Ramadan 2026, the Civil Service Commission set four and a half working hours a day, with a flexible start between 8:30 AM and 10:30 AM, and said no evening shift may start before 6:45 PM.
PACI publishes its own Ramadan hours each year, and guides disagree on them. Some list card collection from 10:00 AM to 4:30 PM at the head office, others a single shift of about 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM, with branches closing around 1:30 PM. Sources differ, so check the slots on Meta before you go.
PACI is closed on official holidays such as Eid Al Fitr, Eid Al Adha, National Day and Liberation Day. Expect heavy crowds on the first working day after a holiday.
What Services Each PACI Office Offers
| Service | Head office | Ahmadi and Jahra |
|---|---|---|
| Civil ID card collection | Yes, machines | Yes, machines |
| New, renewed or replacement card applications | Yes | Many cases |
| Address change | Yes | Yes, if shown on Meta |
| GCC citizen registration and renewal | Yes, first floor | Check Meta |
| Name, date of birth and data corrections | Yes | Limited |
| Kuwait Mobile ID kiosks and e-signature | Yes | Some kiosks |
| Complex cases (residency file, suspended cards) | Yes | Usually referred to head office |
The Meta portal lists services such as Lost Civil ID, Change of Address, Gulf Citizen Civil ID Renewal, Correction of Name and Correction of Residency File. When you pick a service, Meta only shows the offices that handle it. Fingerprint (biometric) appointments are run by the Ministry of Interior, not PACI, so they are not booked at these offices.
Do You Need an Appointment? Booking on Meta
Yes, for most services. Since September 2021, PACI has asked visitors to the head office and branches to book through Meta, the government appointment portal, and guards check the booking at the entrance. Booking is free.
Card collection is the main exception. Once PACI tells you your card is ready, you can go to the office and machine shown, during collection hours, without a counter appointment. Since May 2026, first-time cards and lost-card replacements can also be collected with a QR code sent through Kuwait Mobile ID.
How to Book a PACI Visit on Meta (Step by Step)
- Step 1 Log in to Meta with your civil number and password. First-time users register with their Civil ID number, serial number, mobile number and email.
- Step 2 Open the appointments search and select the Public Authority for Civil Information.
- Step 3 Choose the service category, then the exact service, and click Apply.
- Step 4 Choose the office: South Surra, Ahmadi or Jahra, as offered.
- Step 5 Pick the morning or evening shift if asked, then an available day and time.
- Step 6 Confirm and save the appointment barcode on your phone or print it.
You can also book in the Sahel app. Slots go fast, so check daily.
What to Bring to a PACI Office
The exact list depends on the service, but these cover most visits:
| Item | Why |
|---|---|
| Appointment barcode | Guards check it at the entrance |
| Original Civil ID (current or expired) | Proves your identity and card number |
| Original passport | Needed for expats and GCC nationals |
| Recent photos | For new cards, children aged 5 and up, or photo changes |
| Supporting papers | Lease for address change, employer letter, birth or marriage certificates |
| Phone with Kuwait Mobile ID | For QR collection and digital ID |
For GCC citizens renewing a card, the official page also lists fingerprints for those aged 18 and above, a port entry certificate and a blood type record.
How to Get to PACI Offices
For the head office, head for the Ministries Area in South Surra off the Sixth Ring Road and pin the PACI building in your map app. The car park fills early on Sunday mornings; guides say it is often full before 9:00 AM, while the afternoon is easier.
Public buses run along the main roads near the head office, but routes and stops change, so check a map app before you rely on them. For Ahmadi and Jahra, use the branch pin in your map app or the location shown in your Meta confirmation.
Collecting Your Civil ID Card at a PACI Office
Collection runs on machines, not counters. When your card is ready, the status result or SMS shows the office and the machine number.
- Step 1 Confirm the card is ready and note the office and machine number.
- Step 2 Go during collection hours, 7:30 AM to 1:00 PM or 2:00 PM to 7:00 PM.
- Step 3 At the machine, follow the screen, insert your old card if you are renewing, and take the new card.
If your card is a lost-card replacement or a child over 5 needs a photo, the owner may need to come in person. Collect your card quickly; PACI has warned about large numbers of unclaimed cards and proposed penalties for leaving them.
What You Can Do Without Visiting an Office
Many PACI tasks no longer need a trip:
- Renew a Civil ID online through the PACI website or Sahel, if your photo does not change. See our guide to Kuwait Civil ID renewal.
- Book an address change or other PACI appointment in Sahel.
- Show your digital ID in Kuwait Mobile ID.
- Request home delivery of your card instead of collecting it.
- Ask questions on the PACI hotline 1889988.
Visit for a photo change, a correction, a GCC registration or a complex file.
Common PACI Visit Problems and Fixes
| Problem | Fix |
|---|---|
| Turned away at the gate | Book on Meta and bring the barcode |
| No slots on Meta | Check daily and try another office |
| Arrived on Friday or Saturday | PACI is closed; come Sunday to Thursday |
| Tokens stopped before closing | Arrive at least an hour before the shift ends |
| Card not in the machine | Confirm the card is ready and the machine number |
| Wrong office for your service | Rebook at the office Meta shows for that service |
| Ramadan hours unclear | Check the slots on Meta or call 1889988 |
| Parking full at South Surra | Go in the afternoon or use a taxi |
Tips for Visiting a PACI Office
- Book on Meta before you go.
- Check your card is ready before a collection trip.
- Avoid Sunday and Monday mornings.
- Arrive 15 to 30 minutes early.
- Carry originals and copies.
- Keep your barcode on your phone.
- Use the nearest branch if it offers your service.
- Confirm Ramadan and holiday hours first.
Before visiting, call the PACI hotline 1889988 or book through PACI appointment booking.
More Civil ID and PACI guides
Every guide on the site, in one place.
FAQs About PACI Office Locations and Timings
Where is the PACI head office?
It is in South Surra, in the Ministries Area off the Sixth Ring Road, in Hawalli Governorate.
How many PACI offices are there in Kuwait?
In 2026, three serve the public: the South Surra head office, the Ahmadi (South Sabahiya) branch and the Jahra branch.
Is PACI open on Saturday?
No. PACI offices are closed on Friday, Saturday and official holidays.
What are PACI working hours in 2026?
Since 3 May 2026, card collection runs 7:30 AM to 1:00 PM and 2:00 PM to 7:00 PM, Sunday to Thursday. Counter shifts vary by office.
What time are expats served at PACI?
Mainly in the evening shift, which guides list as about 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM. Your Meta booking shows the exact time.
Where do GCC citizens go at PACI?
To the Citizens and GCC Registration Office on the first floor of the South Surra head office, in the morning.
Can I visit PACI without an appointment?
Only for card collection at the machines. Most other services need a Meta appointment.
What are PACI hours in Ramadan?
PACI works one shorter shift, but sources differ on the exact times. Check Meta slots or call 1889988.
Can I collect my Civil ID at any PACI office?
No. Collect it from the office and machine shown when your card is ready.
What should I bring to PACI?
Your appointment barcode, original Civil ID, passport (expats and GCC nationals) and any papers your service needs.
Conclusion
PACI has three public offices and clear shifts, so a little planning saves a wasted trip. Here is the short version:
| If you want to | Do this |
|---|---|
| Collect your card | Go to the office and machine shown, during collection hours |
| Use any counter service | Book on Meta first |
| Register as a GCC citizen | Visit the first floor of the South Surra head office in the morning |
| Avoid crowds | Use your nearest branch and skip Sunday mornings |
- Check the day, because PACI is closed on Friday, Saturday and official holidays.
- Book on Meta, since guards check your barcode at the entrance.
- Confirm Ramadan hours, because they change every year.
Shifts can change with Civil Service Commission circulars, so confirm the latest times on Meta or with PACI before you go. I based this guide on official e-government pages and news references, last checked in October 2026.
Find the Right PACI Office
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