For the millions of Indian expatriates living in the UAE, recent shifts in consular operations have created a period of significant transition. Following a legal challenge in the Delhi High Court regarding the awarding of a new service contract to Alhind Tours and Travels, the long-standing outsourcing model has been temporarily halted. As a result, the Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi and the Consulate General in Dubai have taken the unprecedented step of managing passport and attestation services directly from their own premises for the first time in nearly two decades.

To manage the high volume of applications, both missions have implemented a mandatory online appointment system. Residents must now book their slots through the official portal, with new availability released daily at 8:00 PM. It is important to note that the fee structure has also seen an increase as of July 1, with standard 36-page passport renewals now priced at Dh450. While the court has mandated a fresh bidding process to resolve the current service limbo within a month, applicants are strongly encouraged to stay updated via official mission channels and avoid banking on walk-in services, which are currently restricted to emergency cases only.