Al Hind Tours and Travels has begun processing Indian passport, visa, attestation and other consular applications at 16 centers across the United Arab Emirates, ending weeks of uncertainty caused by a disputed government tender.

The Indian embassy in Abu Dhabi said the Indian consular application centers began operating on Wednesday, 22 July, across all seven emirates.

Al Hind has replaced BLS International, which previously accepted Indian passport and visa applications, and SGIVS Global, which handled document attestation.

The change affects Indian citizens in the UAE seeking passport renewals, police clearance certificates, birth registrations and other consular services.

The centers will also accept applications from foreign nationals in the UAE seeking visas to travel to India.

UAE tourist, employment, residence and other entry permits remain governed by the country’s immigration system and are generally processed through sponsors, airlines, hotels, travel companies or UAE authorities.

Al Hind’s government-appointed role concerns services delivered by Indian diplomatic missions in the UAE.

Centers open after legal dispute

The Indian government originally selected Al Hind through a tender to take over outsourced consular services from 1 July.

BLS International and SGIVS Global stopped accepting new applications at the end of June, but the planned handover was delayed by litigation challenging the Ministry of External Affairs’ evaluation of bidders.

During the disruption, the Indian embassy in Abu Dhabi and the Consulate General in Dubai temporarily accepted applications directly.

The Delhi High Court on 15 July set aside tender processes covering Indian missions in Abu Dhabi, Kuwait, Singapore and Canberra. It found that the technical evaluation of bidders was arbitrary and lacked adequate reasons, fairness and transparency.

The ruling also nullified contracts awarded through those tenders and directed the government to begin fresh procurement.

The Supreme Court on Monday, 20 July, refused to interfere with the High Court judgment. It nevertheless allowed the Ministry of External Affairs and Engineers India Ltd, which assisted with the procurement, to make temporary arrangements so that passport, visa and consular services were not interrupted while fresh tenders were conducted.

The embassy subsequently announced that services in the UAE had been outsourced to Al Hind from 22 July.

The sequence indicates Al Hind is operating under the temporary arrangements permitted by the courts rather than under the original tender award, which has been set aside.

The embassy has not publicly specified how long the interim arrangement will remain in place or whether Al Hind will be eligible to compete when the government invites fresh bids.

Services move out of missions

Applications are no longer being accepted at the Indian embassy or the Consulate General’s premises. Applicants must use the designated Al Hind centers, the embassy said.

Appointments can be booked through the Consular Seva in UAE portal. New slots are released at 9 am and 9 pm each day.

The centers are scheduled to operate from 8 am to 6 pm. Applicants with appointments have been asked to arrive no more than 15 minutes before their allotted time.

Walk-in access is available for Tatkal passport applications, emergency certificates and services involving newborn children. People aged 60 and above may also visit without appointments, subject to capacity.

The 16-center network includes six locations in the emirate of Abu Dhabi, covering central Abu Dhabi, Musaffah, Al Reem Island, Al Ain, Madinat Zayed and Ghayathi.

Dubai has centers in Bur Dubai and Dubai Investment Park, while Sharjah has locations in Al Majaz and at the Indian Association Sharjah.

Other centers are located in Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah, Kalba and Khor Fakkan.

The wider network should reduce dependence on the embassy and consulate for routine applications, particularly for people living outside Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

AED19 service fee

Al Hind will charge an outsourced service fee of AED19, including value-added tax, in addition to the relevant Indian government fee.

According to the embassy, the charge includes assistance with completing forms, photographs, typing, printing, photocopying and domestic courier delivery.

The Indian missions have advised applicants to rely only on official channels and avoid intermediaries claiming they can secure appointments or accelerate applications.

The opening comes alongside an increase in Indian passport charges in the UAE that took effect on 1 July.

The fee revision is separate from Al Hind’s appointment and should not be confused with the company’s AED19 service charge. The Consulate General in Dubai issued a formal notice announcing the revised passport fees on 30 June.

What Al Hind can process

The centers accept applications for fresh and renewed Indian passports, Tatkal passports, police clearance certificates, emergency certificates and several other consular services.

They also handle document attestation and applications for Indian visas from eligible foreign nationals in the UAE.

Al Hind acts as an application collection and processing intermediary. It can receive documents, conduct preliminary checks, collect fees and transfer applications to the Indian mission.

Indian citizens applying for passport services must generally complete the required online application before attending a center with their documents.

Visa applicants must use the relevant Indian visa application process and submit the supporting material required for their visa category.

Part of a wider overseas disruption

The UAE dispute was part of a broader breakdown in India’s effort to renew outsourced consular contracts in several countries.

Services in Australia were also disrupted during the transition before resuming through six VFS Global centers on 23 July. The High Court judgment covered the tender for the Indian mission in Canberra alongside Abu Dhabi, Kuwait and Singapore.

The Australia development shows that the litigation affected a wider consular outsourcing program rather than an isolated UAE contract.

India has long used private service providers to collect applications at missions abroad because embassies and consulates often lack the staff and premises to handle large volumes directly.

The model is particularly important in the UAE, which has one of the world’s largest overseas Indian populations and generates heavy demand for passports, attestations and other documentation.

The immediate opening of the 16 centers should ease the pressure that built up during the transition.