Indian Embassy in UAE Suspends Regular Consular Appointments for Five Days from June 26
Indian nationals in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) seeking passport, visa, or attestation services at the Indian Embassy or consulates will face a five-day suspension of regular appointments from June 26 to June 30, 2026. The Indian diplomatic mission announced that this break is necessary to transition to a new consular services provider, Alhind Tours and Travels LLC, which will take over operations from July 1.
During this period, regular appointments for passport, visa, and attestation services will not be available. However, the Embassy in Abu Dhabi and the Consulate General in Dubai will continue to handle emergency cases directly. Applicants with urgent needs can contact the mission via toll-free number 800 46342 (800 INDIA), WhatsApp at +971 54 309 0571, or email at pbsk.dubai@mea.gov.in.
The current service providers, BLS International (handling passport and visa services) and SGIVS Global (handling attestation), will stop accepting new applications after business hours on Thursday, June 25, 2026. The five-day gap ensures a clean handover to Alhind, which will open a new appointment portal shortly before the transition.
Alhind Tours & Travels, founded in Kerala, India, in 1992, has operated in the UAE and other Middle Eastern countries since 1995. The company plans to establish 16 dedicated centres across all seven emirates, with major hubs in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Fujairah. The largest centre, located in Bur Dubai, will span approximately 12,000 square feet with over 45 service counters. Alhind has pledged a flat, all-inclusive service fee of Dh19 on top of mandatory government charges, aiming to reduce waiting times.
This transition affects more than 3.5 million Indian expatriates in the UAE, who constitute nearly 40% of the country's population. It is one of the largest consular service overhauls undertaken by an Indian mission abroad.
Separately, the UAE’s Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) has extended a grace period for residents and visa holders affected by the Iran war. Those who were previously exempted from overstay fines due to disruption from the US-Iran conflict now have until July 9, 2026, to correct their visa status without penalties. The grace period, which began on June 10, 2026, provides a 30-day window for affected individuals.
