Thousands of Indian expatriates in the UAE are currently facing uncertainty regarding consular services, including passport renewals and visa processing, due to a contentious legal battle over a new government contract. The Indian mission in the UAE has been forced to temporarily step in to handle these essential services directly after a transition period was stalled. The dispute stems from a competitive bidding process won by Alhind Tours & Travels in November, which was intended to replace the long-standing service provider, BLS. However, two unsuccessful bidders have challenged the selection, taking their grievances all the way to India’s Supreme Court.

The disgruntled bidders argue that the technical evaluation process was fundamentally flawed and opaque. They claim that their disqualification was arbitrary, pointing to instances where they received zero or disproportionately low marks despite meeting strict tender requirements, such as application turnaround times. While the Delhi High Court previously allowed the transition to proceed, the petitioners are urging the Supreme Court to intervene, fearing that if the contract is fully operationalized, the legal challenge will become moot and impossible to reverse. As the legal tug-of-war continues, the Indian missions in Abu Dhabi and Dubai have begun offering limited, first-come-first-serve walk-in services, leaving many expats waiting anxiously for a permanent resolution.