Starting July 22, 2026, the Indian Embassy in the UAE has officially transitioned all consular, visa, passport, and attestation services to AlHind Tours & Travels. These services are now handled exclusively through 16 newly established Indian Consular Application Centres (ICACs) across the country, meaning residents can no longer visit the Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi or the Consulate General in Dubai for these administrative needs. To manage the workflow, the embassy has implemented an online appointment system at consularsevainuae.com, with slots opening daily at 9:00 am and 9:00 pm. While most services require a pre-booked appointment, exceptions are made for senior citizens, newborns, and those seeking emergency certificates or Tatkal passport services, which are handled on a first-come, first-served walk-in basis.

The operational change follows a period of significant uncertainty for UAE residents, as a legal dispute in India previously prevented AlHind from taking over the contract from the former service provider, BLS International. During this interim, residents faced considerable challenges and delays in passport renewals. Following a recent Supreme Court of India ruling that allowed missions to engage service providers temporarily, the path was cleared for the new centers to begin operations. The service fee for these applications is set at Dh19, which covers ancillary support like document typing, photography, and photocopies, on top of the standard government charges. While the transition aims to streamline the process, it remains unclear whether this arrangement is a permanent solution or a stopgap measure.