Background
We have a software application originally developed using Angular version 7.2.5. This application integrates with a hardware device that reads data from Emirates Identity Cards. The integration relies on a JavaScript program available with Emirates ID SDK toolkit through the Emirates ID Reader Service.
Version Upgrade Impact
As part of our ongoing maintenance and modernization efforts, we upgraded the application to Angular version 17.3. After this upgrade, the Emirates ID reading functionality stopped working. No error messages or warnings were displayed in the console or logs.
Despite updating the JavaScript version received from Emirates ID toolkit SDK, the issue persisted. A detailed investigation revealed that Angular 17 enforces stricter programming and scoping rules compared to earlier versions. The existing JavaScript program was not fully compatible with these new constraints, especially in terms of variable scope management and context handling.
Root Cause
JavaScript scope variables used by the Emirates ID Reader Service were not compliant with Angular 17’s stricter encapsulation and execution context.
The legacy JavaScript code was not designed with modern Angular integration practices, resulting in runtime failures or unrecognized references.
Resolution
We performed a complete review of the JavaScript integration layer.
All scope definitions and variable usages were refactored to comply with Angular 17’s requirements.
After implementing these modifications, the Emirates ID reading functionality was successfully restored and is now operating as expected.
Conclusion
Upgrading to Angular 17 requires careful validation of all external JavaScript integrations. Developers should ensure that such integrations respect Angular’s strict scoping rules and best practices for external script execution.


