The Embassy of India in the United Arab Emirates announced that services related to obtaining passports, visas, and document legalization in the UAE have been outsourced to AlHind Tours & Travels company.
The Embassy of India in the United Arab Emirates announced that services related to obtaining passports, visas, and document legalization in the UAE have been outsourced to AlHind Tours & Travels company.
This transfer of authority came into effect on Wednesday, July 22, 2026. These services will now be provided through sixteen Indian Consular Application Centres (ICACs).
The Embassy of Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates has announced the postponement of e-passport services for Emirati citizens until further notice, citing administrative and technical complexities.
In an official statement, the Embassy reported that the issuance of electronic passports, which was scheduled to begin on July 20, 2026, has been postponed. The acceptance and processing of applications in the e-passport category remain suspended until a new date is announced.
The Embassy emphasized that existing services for issuing Machine Readable Passports (MRP) are not affected by this delay. Applications for the issuance and renewal of MRPs continue to be processed without interruption. A new date for providing e-passport services will be announced later, and it is recommended to visit the Embassy's website and follow its official social media accounts for updates.
Pakistan plans to fully transition to the e-passport system, gradually phasing out machine-readable passports. This transformation aims to enhance security levels, improve convenience, and modernize passport services.
An electronic passport is an advanced version of the traditional document, containing a built-in electronic microchip. This chip securely stores the owner's personal and biometric information, making the document more secure and simplifying verification during international travel. Thanks to this chip, owners can use electronic turnstiles and safely store their identification data.
Unlike the traditional Machine Readable Passport (MRP), which primarily relies on printed information and a data reading zone at the bottom of the ID page, the electronic passport uses digital technologies for traveler identity authentication. Previously, the embassy published the payment structure for e-passports, offering five-year and ten-year validity options.
For a standard 36-page e-passport with a five-year validity, the cost is 145 dirhams, while the expedited service costs 235 dirhams. A 72-page passport costs 260 dirhams in the standard category and 425 dirhams for expedited processing. Regarding the ten-year validity, a standard 36-page passport costs 215 dirhams, and for urgent applications, the price increases to 355 dirhams. A 72-page passport will cost 390 dirhams under normal circumstances and 635 dirhams for expedited issuance. The tariff plan also includes separate fees for replacing lost passports, with higher rates for the first and second loss.
The consular services system and passport issuance for Indians in the United Arab Emirates is undergoing significant changes, causing uncertainty among more than 3.5 million Indian expats.
In November 2025, the Indian Mission conducted a tender to transfer consular services to the Embassy in Abu Dhabi and the Consulate General in Dubai. This move followed a ten-year period of operation by the previous passport service operator. After the competition, which included companies such as VFS Global and SGIVS Global, Alhind Tours and Travels LLC from Kerala emerged as the lowest bidder and secured the contract.
Initially, Alhind was scheduled to begin operations on July 1, 2026, opening 16 specialized centers across all seven emirates. The largest center was planned to be located in Bur Dubai, spanning 12,000 square feet and featuring over 45 service windows. Alhind promised a unified fee only 19 dirhams above mandatory government charges and hired over 400 employees to support operations.
The smooth transition was disrupted when two firms that lost the tender challenged the evaluation process in the Delhi High Court. This legal situation prevented Alhind from officially commencing operations on July 1. Consequently, the contracts of the existing service providers, BLS International and SGIVS Global, expired on June 30, and they ceased their activities.
The Delhi High Court ruled to re-tender the process and complete it within one month. It is important to note that the court also decided that 'existing contractors' could temporarily continue their services to avoid disruptions. However, the final decision regarding the reinstatement of their activities or the continuation of direct operations now rests with the Indian Missions in the UAE.
As the service handover remains pending, the Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi and the Consulate General in Dubai have begun providing visa, attestation, and passport services directly from their premises for the first time in 17 years. Since July 1, the missions introduced a system requiring prior appointment booking through a new official portal.
Although walk-ins were permitted in the initial days, the system is strictly accessible only after booking in Dubai. At the Embassy in Abu Dhabi, a limited number of walk-in visitors are still allowed only in emergency cases and without a guarantee of service.
To book an appointment, several steps must be completed: log into the online system at https://book.passportindiauae.com/, create an account, and verify via email, log in with registered details, select the appropriate institution—the Embassy in Abu Dhabi or the Consulate General of India in Dubai, enter the required information, and choose an available appointment slot. The booking is confirmed after verification.
Available slots appear daily at 8:00 PM the following day and fill up quickly.
Fees for passport renewal were increased starting July 1. According to the new structure, standard applications for a new or renewed 36-page passport will cost 450 dirhams, compared to the previous 285 dirhams, and 900 dirhams for the expedited scheme. For a 60-page passport, the renewal cost will be 630 dirhams under the regular scheme and 1,080 dirhams under the expedited scheme.
The institutions operate daily. Nevertheless, the Indian Consulate in Dubai announced a temporary closure from Friday, July 17, 2026, to Sunday, July 19, 2026, due to road repair work being carried out by the relevant authorities.
The situation remains dynamic. The Delhi High Court's ruling stipulated that the new tender process must be concluded within one month. Until then, Indian expats in the UAE will likely continue to interact directly with the Indian Missions in the country. Citizens are advised to monitor updates on the official portal.
Despite the readiness of new Indian consular service centers in various parts of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), they remain unused due to an ongoing legal dispute. As of July 1st, these offices were supposed to be fully operational, but the process of transferring outsourced services to the operator is being delayed.
A visit to the CPV company's application center at the UW shopping mall revealed an empty office where staff were conducting simulations of waiting times and token numbers. In the largest of the sixteen centers, there were empty waiting chairs and more than half of the workstations unoccupied.
Previously, a representative from Alhind Tours and Travels told Khaleej Times that this facility covers an area of over 12,000 square feet and has more than 45 counters. This center, which was intended to provide both consular and legalization services, aimed to significantly reduce waiting times.
In Dubai, the company has another CPV application center in the Dubai Investment Park (DIP). The remaining centers are located in Al Dhafra, Al Reem, Musaffah, Al Ain, Madinat Zayed, Al Majaz, Rolla, Ajdan, Fujairah, Umm Al Quwain, Khorfakkan, Kalba, and Ras Al Khaimah.
The first center in Ghayat, located in the Al Dhafra region of Abu Dhabi, will open. This office is expected to be convenient for the large number of Indians residing and working in the Ruwais area.
Alhind received the contract earlier this year following a tender conducted in November 2025. The contract was awarded after the Embassy of India announced the replacement of BLS, which had provided passport, visa, and consular services since 2011. Alhind was selected as the lowest bidder among four shortlisted companies.
The transition has been postponed due to a legal dispute regarding the contract, which is being heard in the High Court of Delhi in India. Two losing bidders who did not pass the final stage challenged the decision, claiming they were disqualified during the technical evaluation phase without proper grounds. The court's decision is expected soon.
Meanwhile, Indian missions in the UAE have temporarily started processing consular services independently based on prior appointments. Previously, these services were available on a walk-in basis. However, the Consulate General of India (CGI) in Dubai and the Embassy of India in Abu Dhabi reported that mandatory online booking became effective starting Monday for receiving the service.
All applicants must register in advance through the official portal: book.passportindiauae.com. The consulate has faced a huge influx of applicants due to the peak summer travel season, with over a thousand people arriving for consular services on most days.
