The Embassy of India in Abu Dhabi has appointed Al Hind Tours and Travels LLC as the new outsourced service provider for Indian passport, visa and consular services across the UAE. According to reports from Business Standard, Economic Times, and Immigration News, this change will replace existing service providers BLS International Services Limited and SGIVS Global starting July 1, 2026. The transition follows completion of a comprehensive tendering and selection process by the Indian mission, with the appointment made after a competitive bidding process to ensure efficient, accessible, and high-quality consular services to the Indian community and other applicants in the UAE. As reported by Khaleej Times, the Indian Embassy announced this development through their social media channels on June 15, 2026, confirming that Alhind Tours and Travels LLC will become the sole outsourced service provider for passport, visa, and consular applications across the country.
Indian passport, visa and attestation services across the UAE will be suspended for five days from June 26 to June 30, 2026 due to the provider transition. As reported by Economic Times, the Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi announced that existing service providers will stop accepting new applications after the close of business on June 25. During this suspension period, regular appointments for passport renewals, visa applications and attestation services will not be available, though the Indian Embassy and Consulate General will continue to provide emergency passport, visa and attestation services for urgent cases. To ensure citizens are not left stranded, emergency assistance will remain available throughout the suspension period via phone, WhatsApp and email channels. The embassy has advised applicants to complete any urgent documentation requirements before June 25 and closely follow official announcements regarding revised appointment procedures.
As reported by Economic Times, Al Hind Tours and Travels LLC will manage a broad range of consular services including Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cards, Police Clearance Certificates (PCC), and Global Entry Programme verification. This expanded service portfolio represents a significant enhancement from the previous service providers, ensuring comprehensive consular support for the Indian community in the UAE. The new service provider was selected through a competitive tendering process to ensure the highest quality standards for Indian expatriates. According to Khaleej Times, the embassy conveyed that detailed information about working hours and procedures would be conveyed later through official channels, indicating a comprehensive approach to service delivery.
Al Hind will launch a centralised online portal on July 1, 2026, replacing the old BLS and SGIVS booking systems. As reported by Economic Times, this new platform will handle all passport, visa and consular service bookings under the unified system. The embassy has announced that applications submitted before July 1 will continue to be processed through BLS International and SGIVS Global centres, ensuring no disruption for existing applicants. The transition applies to services managed by the Embassy of India in Abu Dhabi and the Consulate General of India in Dubai, covering a large Indian community living and working across the UAE. The move marks a significant change in the delivery of Indian consular services in the UAE, with officials expecting improved access and efficiency once the new system becomes operational.
The embassy will announce details about new service centres, appointment procedures, operating hours, service charges and contact details separately through official channels. Applicants requiring passport renewals, visa-related services or other consular assistance after the transition date will need to follow the updated process once the new centres begin operations. According to Economic Times, the embassy has advised people to depend only on official websites and verified social media channels for updates regarding the change, with no immediate disruption during the transition period. The mission remains committed to ensuring a smooth transition and maintaining efficient and accessible consular services for the Indian community and other applicants across the UAE.
