Abu Dhabi, UAE – Web Desk: Thousands of Indian nationals living in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are facing disruptions in passport, visa, document attestation and other consular services after a legal dispute in India delayed the transition to a new service provider.
According to foreign media reports, the Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi and the Consulate General of India in Dubai have announced that, from July 2, essential consular services will be provided directly through their offices on a limited basis. Applicants have been advised to visit on a walk-in basis between 9:00am and 12:30pm, without prior appointments.
The disruption follows the expiry of service agreements with BLS International and SGIVS on June 30, 2026. Under a new tender, Alhind Tours and Travels had been selected to operate Indian Consular Application Centres from July 1. However, the transition has been delayed after legal challenges were filed in India over the tender evaluation process.
According to reports, two companies challenged the technical evaluation before the Delhi High Court before the matter reached the Supreme Court of India. The apex court ordered that the existing situation be maintained until a final decision is issued, preventing the new contractor from formally assuming operations.
As a result, the previous service providers have ceased operations while the new company has been unable to begin services, causing temporary interruptions for thousands of applicants across the UAE.
Indian diplomatic missions described the arrangement as a temporary measure and said further announcements regarding the transfer of services would be made once legal proceedings conclude.
Official figures show that Indian diplomatic missions in the UAE provided nearly 1.58 million consular services between January 2022 and December 2024, including more than 364,000 passport-related services in 2024 alone.
