For weeks, Indian expats in the UAE were unsure where and how they could get passport, visa, and attestation work done, as a court case in Delhi held up the planned handover to a new service provider. That uncertainty has now ended. According to an official notification, Indian Consular, Passport, Visa & Attestation services in the UAE have been outsourced to Al Hind Tours & Travels with effect from July 22, 2026.
A Quick Recap of the Confusion
Indian consular services in the UAE were earlier handled by BLS International (passport and visa) and SGIVS Global (attestation). Their contracts ended on June 30, 2026, and a new company, Al Hind Tours & Travels, was chosen to take over from July 1. However, two companies that lost the bidding process challenged the tender in the Delhi High Court, arguing they were disqualified unfairly. This led to a court battle that reached the Supreme Court, and for weeks the Indian Embassy and Consulate had to run services directly on a walk-in basis. That legal uncertainty has now been resolved, clearing the way for Al Hind to officially begin operations.
What the Official Notification Says
1. Outsourcing confirmed: Indian Consular, Passport, Visa & Attestation services in the UAE are now outsourced to Al Hind Tours & Travels, effective 22 July 2026. Services are provided at 16 Indian Consular Application Centers (ICACs) located across the UAE.
2. How to book an appointment: All applicants must book prior appointments at consularsevainuae.com. New appointment slots are released twice daily, at 9 AM and 9 PM.
3. Embassy and Consulate no longer provide these services directly: Passport, visa, and attestation services will no longer be available at the Embassy of India, Abu Dhabi, or the Consulate General of India, Dubai premises. Applicants must go to one of the 16 ICACs instead.
4. Center timings: All ICACs are open from 8 AM to 6 PM. Applicants should double-check their details and select the correct service category while booking, since entry to the centers is allowed only 15 minutes before the scheduled appointment time.
5. Fees: Along with the Government of India fees (revised since July 1, 2026), Al Hind Tours & Travels LLC charges a service fee of AED 19, inclusive of VAT. This single fee covers all related services — form filling, photograph, document typing, domestic courier, printing, and photocopying. A full fee breakdown is available on consularsevainuae.com.
6. Walk-in services for urgent cases: Applications for Tatkal passports, new-born cases, Emergency Certificates (EC), and senior citizens (60 years and above) can be submitted directly on a walk-in, first-come-first-served basis at any ICAC, without needing a prior appointment.
Full List of 16 Indian Consular Application Centers (ICACs) in UAE
Emirate of Abu Dhabi
| Sl No. | Location | Address |
|---|---|---|
| ICAC 1 | Al Danah | Al Ghaith Tower, 1205 Hamdan Bin Mohammed Street, Al Danah, Zone 1, Abu Dhabi |
| ICAC 2 | Musaffah | Capital Mall, Mohammed Bin Zayed City, Abu Dhabi |
| ICAC 3 | Al Reem | Office No. (WSO 157, 158 and 159) – Level 1, Wafra Square Offices, Al Reem Island, Abu Dhabi |
| ICAC 4 | Al Ain | Building No 14, Street No 1 – 163 Abdullah Bin Dhahir Al Muhairi St – Al Khibeesi – Al Ain, Abu Dhabi |
| ICAC 5 | Madinat Zayed, Al Dhafra | Madinat Zayed-Bldg # 55, Bada Zayed, Abu Dhabi |
| ICAC 6 | Ghayathi | Office # G15-16, Ghayathi Mall, Al Dhafra Region, Abu Dhabi |
Dubai & Northern Emirates
| Sl No. | Location | Address |
|---|---|---|
| ICAC 7 | Bur Dubai | UW Mall, Al Mankhool, Khalid Bin Al Waleed Rd, 317-11B Street, Bur Dubai, Dubai |
| ICAC 8 | Dubai Investment Park-I | Room 601-02, Bayan, Dubai Investment Park-I, Green Community Village, Dubai |
| ICAC 9 | Sharjah Al Majaz | Room 902-3, Bell Rashid Towers, Corniche St, Al Majaz 1, Sharjah |
| ICAC 10 | Indian Association Sharjah | Indian Association Building, Al Estiqlal St, Al Manakh, Hay Al Qasimiah, Sharjah |
| ICAC 11 | Ajman | Indian Association Ajman, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Rd, Al Jerf Industrial 3, Ajman |
| ICAC 12 | Umm Al Quwain | Indian Association, Al Neefah, Al Ramlah 2, Umm Al Quwain |
| ICAC 13 | Ras Al Khaimah | Indian Relief Committee, Al Mamourah Rd, Al Mamourah, Ras Al Khaimah |
| ICAC 14 | Fujairah | Indian Social Club, Al Faseel, Fujairah |
| ICAC 15 | Kalba | Indian Social & Cultural Club, Al Taraif 5, Kalba, Sharjah |
| ICAC 16 | Khor Fakkan | Room 203, Bridi 670 Zarouni Building, Shk Khalid Road, Sharjah |
What Indian Expats Should Do Now
- Book appointments only through consularsevainuae.com and be alert to the twice-daily 9 AM / 9 PM slot release.
- Do not visit the Embassy in Abu Dhabi or Consulate in Dubai for these services anymore — go to the nearest ICAC from the list above.
- Arrive no more than 15 minutes before your appointment, and double-check your service category before booking.
- Urgent cases (Tatkal, new-born, EC, senior citizens) can walk in directly at any center without an appointment.
- Keep the AED 19 service charge in mind, in addition to the Government of India fee, when budgeting for your application.
This marks the end of a confusing few weeks for the roughly 4.3 to 4.5 million Indian nationals living in the UAE, as consular services shift fully to the new, single outsourced provider across all seven emirates.
