Indian passport, visa services in UAE outsourced to Al Hind Tours and Travels
The services will be provided at 16 ICACs located across UAE
Dubai: Indian passport, visa and attestation services across the UAE will now be handled by Al Hind Tours and Travels, with the new system coming into effect from July 22, 2026.
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The services have been outsourced through 16 Indian Consular Application Centres (ICACs) across the UAE, the Indian Consulate in Dubai announced late Tuesday evening.
The announcement means applicants seeking passport renewals, visa services and document attestation will now need to use the new provider for these consular services.
Appointments can be booked through the newly launched Consular Seva in UAE portal, the mission clarified.
The transition follows the Indian government's decision to appoint a new service provider for consular services in the UAE after the previous outsourcing arrangement ended following several legal battles.
The 16 ICACs will provide passport, visa and attestation-related services for Indian nationals and other applicants across the Emirates.
Applicants with upcoming appointments are advised to use the new booking platform and check the latest guidance before visiting a centre.
The transition to Al Hind Tours & Travels follows weeks of legal uncertainty over who should run Indian passport, visa and attestation services in the UAE.
The previous outsourcing contracts held by BLS International (passport and visa services) and SGIVS Global Services (attestation services) expired on June 30, 2026.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had awarded a new contract to Al Hind Tours & Travels to operate 16 Indian Consular Application Centres (ICACs) across the UAE.
However, before the new system could be fully implemented, the tender process was challenged in the Delhi High Court.
What did the Delhi High Court rule?
On July 15, the Delhi High Court quashed the MEA's technical evaluation process for outsourcing Consular, Passport and Visa (CPV) services at Indian missions in Abu Dhabi.
The court held that the technical evaluation of bidders was arbitrary and lacked transparency. It directed the Centre to issue fresh tenders within one month and complete the procurement process as quickly as possible.
The ruling cast uncertainty over Al Hind's appointment in the UAE and raised concerns about possible delays for millions of Indian expatriates seeking passport renewals, visas and attestation services.
What happened in the Supreme Court?
The Centre immediately challenged the High Court's decision in the Supreme Court, arguing that a fresh tender process would disrupt essential consular services at Indian missions abroad.
On July 21, the Supreme Court refused to interfere with the Delhi High Court's judgment, effectively upholding the order to quash the tender process for the four overseas missions.
Despite the legal proceedings, the Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi announced that, from July 22, passport, visa and attestation services in the UAE would be delivered by Al Hind Tours & Travels through 16 Indian Consular Application Centres.
