New Indian passport system launches in UAE: Complete application guide for 4.39 million expats
Indian nationals in the UAE must now use Al Hind Tours & Travels and 16 new consular centres for passport services from July 22, following Supreme Court clearance after legal challenges to the tender process.
New Indian passport system launches in UAE: Complete application guide for 4.39 million expats
Indian nationals seeking passport, visa and consular services in the UAE face a major transition as the Government of India officially shifted these operations to Al Hind Tours & Travels on July 22, 2026, ending direct application services at the Embassy in Abu Dhabi and Consulate General in Dubai.
The change affects approximately 4.39 million Indian nationals living in the UAE, the largest expatriate community representing about 38 per cent of the country's total population. The Indian diaspora in the Emirates has doubled from 2.2 million in 2012, with over half concentrated in Dubai.
Applications are now processed through 16 Indian Consular Application Centres (ICACs) spread across the seven emirates. Appointments can be booked through consularsevainuae.com, with new slots released twice daily at 9am and 9pm.
Legal challenges cleared before launch
The new system went live after months of legal uncertainty. On July 15, 2026, the Delhi High Court quashed the Ministry of External Affairs' tender process for outsourcing consular services at Indian missions in Abu Dhabi, Kuwait, Singapore and Canberra. The court ruled the technical evaluation was arbitrary, lacked transparency and violated fairness principles. Specific irregularities included identical proposals receiving different scores across missions without explanation, and some bidders receiving zero marks despite meeting prescribed standards.
On July 21, 2026, the Supreme Court of India stayed the High Court order, directing the MEA to make interim arrangements allowing service providers to continue operations without disrupting passport and consular services. This intervention enabled Al Hind Tours & Travels to begin operations the following day.
Al Hind replaces BLS International Services Ltd. and SGIVS Global, which handled Indian consular services in the UAE until June 30, 2026. BLS had served for over a decade before being debarred from bidding for new contracts.
About the new service provider
Al Hind Tours & Travels was founded in Kerala, India in 1992 and began operations in the UAE and other Middle Eastern countries in 1995. The company has grown into a diversified group with interests in travel, IT software, luxury rentals, foreign exchange and aviation, operating over 130 branches worldwide.
Step-by-step application process
Applicants must complete eight steps to obtain their passport:
- Fill in the online Passport Application Form through the Passport Seva Portal. Those needing assistance can visit any ICAC centre where application support is available.
- Book an appointment through the ICAC website, selecting your preferred centre, date and time from slots released at 9am and 9pm daily.
- Prepare all original documents, photographs and supporting papers for verification.
- Arrive at the selected centre on your appointment date with all required materials. Entry is permitted only 15 minutes before the scheduled time.
- Submit the completed application with required documents and pay applicable government fees and service charges.
- Collect your submission receipt and keep it safely for tracking and collection purposes.
- Monitor application status through the ICAC website or Passport Seva Portal.
- Collect your passport from the selected ICAC or have it delivered to your registered address if courier service was chosen.
Operating hours and fees
All 16 centres operate daily from 8am to 6pm. In addition to Government of India passport fees, which were revised for the first time in 14 years on July 1, 2026 under the Passports (Amendment) Rules, 2026, applicants pay a service charge of Dh19 including VAT. The fee increase ranged from 60 to 75 per cent across different categories.
This service charge covers form filling, photograph service, document typing, domestic courier, printouts and photocopying.
Total passport fees are Dh477 for normal applications and Dh927 for tatkal (express) applications.
Walk-in services available
The following categories do not require prior appointments and are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis at all ICACs:
- Tatkal passport applications
- New-born passport cases
- Emergency Certificates
- Applicants aged 60 years and above
Centre locations
The 16 centres are strategically positioned across Abu Dhabi emirate (Al Danah, Musaffah, Al Reem, Al Ain, Madinat Zayed, Ghayathi), Dubai (Bur Dubai, Dubai Investment Park), Sharjah (Al Majaz, Indian Association Sharjah, Kalba, Khor Fakkan), and the northern emirates (Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah).
Detailed addresses for each centre are available on the ICAC website. Applicants should verify their nearest location before booking appointments.
The expansion of consular infrastructure reflects the rapid growth of the Indian community in the UAE, which has effectively doubled over just 13 years, creating increased demand for efficient passport and visa services.
