New Delhi, 21 July
India Appoints Al Hind for UAE Passport Services Across 16 Centres From July 22
India Appoints Al Hind for UAE Passport services as the Embassy of India in Abu Dhabi has announced that Al Hind Tours & Travels LLC will officially operate Indian passport, visa and attestation services across the United Arab Emirates from Wednesday, July 22. The services will be offered through 16 Indian Consular Application Centres (ICACs) located across the UAE, replacing the temporary in-house arrangement that had been introduced earlier this month.
The announcement is expected to benefit lakhs of Indian expatriates living in the UAE by streamlining access to passport and consular services through dedicated service centres.
India Appoints Al Hind for UAE Passport Services Through 16 Centres
With India Appoints Al Hind for UAE Passport services, all routine passport, visa and attestation applications will now be processed through the newly designated ICACs operated by Al Hind Tours & Travels LLC.
Beginning July 22, applicants will no longer be able to access these services directly at the Embassy of India in Abu Dhabi or the Consulate General of India in Dubai. Instead, all eligible applications must be submitted at one of the 16 authorised centres across the Emirates.
The Embassy stated that the transition is aimed at ensuring faster, more efficient and customer-friendly delivery of consular services to Indian nationals residing in the UAE.
Online Appointment Booking Mandatory
Following the decision that India Appoints Al Hind for UAE Passport services, applicants must book appointments online through the official Consular Seva in UAE portal before visiting the centres.
According to the Embassy, appointment slots will be released twice every day, at 9:00 am and 9:00 pm, allowing applicants to schedule their visits conveniently.
Applicants have also been advised to select the correct service category while booking their appointments and arrive at the application centre no earlier than 15 minutes before the scheduled time to ensure smooth processing.
ICAC Centres to Operate Daily
All 16 Indian Consular Application Centres (ICACs) will operate seven days a week from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm.
Apart from the Government of India fees revised with effect from July 1, 2026, applicants will also have to pay a service charge of AED 19, inclusive of VAT, to Al Hind Tours & Travels LLC.
The service fee includes several facilities designed to simplify the application process, including:
- Application form filling
- Document typing
- Passport-size photography
- Photocopying
- Printing of documents
- Domestic courier delivery
The Embassy noted that these integrated services are intended to make the application process quicker and more convenient for applicants.
Walk-In Services Available for Select Applicants
Although appointments are mandatory for most services, the Embassy confirmed that walk-in applications will continue for certain priority categories.
These include:
- Tatkal passport applications
- Registration of newborn children
- Emergency Certificates (EC)
- Senior citizens aged 60 years and above
These applicants will be served on a first-come, first-served basis, ensuring that urgent and special cases continue to receive timely assistance.
Background of the Contract Dispute
The announcement that India Appoints Al Hind for UAE Passport services comes after months of legal proceedings over the outsourcing contract.
The Embassy of India in Abu Dhabi had originally awarded the contract to Al Hind Tours & Travels LLC following a global tender issued in November 2025. The company was initially expected to begin operations on July 1, 2026.
However, unsuccessful bidders challenged the procurement process before the Delhi High Court, leading to a delay in the transition.
During this period, the Embassy in Abu Dhabi and the Consulate General of India in Dubai temporarily resumed processing passport, visa and attestation services directly. This marked the first time in nearly 17 years that the Indian missions handled these services in-house.
Supreme Court Clears the Way; India Appoints Al Hind for UAE Passport Services Across 16 Centres From July 22
On July 15, the Delhi High Court set aside the tender process, observing that the technical evaluation could not be sustained in law. The court directed the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) to issue fresh Requests for Proposal (RFPs) for consular service contracts at Indian missions in Abu Dhabi, Kuwait, Singapore and Canberra within one month.
The Union government subsequently approached the Supreme Court, arguing that restarting the tender process immediately could disrupt essential consular services for Indian citizens abroad.
On July 20, the Supreme Court declined to interfere with the Delhi High Court’s order, allowing the transition to continue while fresh tender proceedings are undertaken.
Indian Community to Benefit
The decision that India Appoints Al Hind for UAE Passport services is expected to improve accessibility and reduce waiting times for passport, visa and attestation services across the UAE. With 16 dedicated centres now operational from July 22, Indian nationals will have greater convenience in accessing essential consular services while the Ministry of External Affairs continues the process of issuing fresh tenders.