Should Indian expatriates in the UAE register with the Embassy of India, Abu Dhabi?
Abu Dhabi: A WhatsApp message calling on Indian expatriates in the UAE to register their details with the Embassy of India, Abu Dhabi has gone viral, causing widespread confusion within the community amid the escalating US-Israel-Iran conflict, which has created an unprecedented situation in the region.
The message, titled “Important Update for Indian Nationals in UAE,” claimed that the Embassy had issued a registration link for all Indian citizens living in the UAE to submit their details for safety and communication purposes.
“We kindly request all community members to register using the official link provided below for safety, communication, and important updates. This is purely a precautionary measure for record purposes. Please complete your registration at the earliest and share this message with other Indian nationals in the UAE. Let us remain united, informed, and safe,” the message stated.
Not a new requirement
However, it has has confirmed that the Embassy of India, Abu Dhabi has not issued any such directive to Indian expatriates in relation to the ongoing conflict. The Consulate General of India, Dubai has also not made any similar announcement.
The viral link actually refers to an existing provision that has been in place for several years. It is intended to maintain a long-standing database that Indian missions worldwide use to keep records of Indian nationals living abroad.
Indian authorities have consistently encouraged expatriates to register their details with the relevant missions—in the case of the UAE, the Embassy of India, Abu Dhabi and the Consulate General of India, Dubai. This registration mechanism was not established in response to the US-Israel-Iran conflict.
It is important to note that when Indian missions needed to collect data from expatriates and visitors stranded in the UAE for repatriation during the Covid-19 pandemic, they did not use this existing registration link. Separate e-registration links were issued specifically for that purpose at the time.
Admins backtrack
The surge in registrations was so overwhelming that the link temporarily crashed. Several WhatsApp group administrators have since acknowledged the error and deleted their earlier posts. Members of the Indian expatriate community in the UAE, which numbers over 4.3 million, are now being urged not to share the link or spread rumours or misleading information.
Community members are advised to rely solely on official communications from the Embassy of India, Abu Dhabi or the Consulate General of India, Dubai, and to verify any information before sharing it on WhatsApp groups.
Social media advisory
In a social media advisory issued on Saturday night, the Embassy reminded Indian expatriates in the UAE to avoid rumours and stay informed through official channels.
The mission has urged Indian expatriates to exercise caution when posting information on social media about the current situation, in line with advisories issued by the UAE authorities.
“The members of the Indian community in the UAE are requested not to fall prey to rumours or fake news regarding the security situation in the country and to follow the official handles of the Embassy, Consulate, and UAE government authorities for updates,” the mission stated.
It also advised Indian expats to consult the verified social media accounts of various UAE government departments to access official information.
Emergency contacts
In an earlier advisory on Saturday, the Embassy confirmed that it, along with the Consulate General of India, Dubai, continues to operate normally and will provide updates as necessary.
For any emergency queries, Indian nationals in the UAE can contact the toll-free number 800-46342 or reach out via WhatsApp at +971543090571. Emails can also be sent to pbsk.dubai@mea.gov.in and ca.abudhabi@mea.gov.in.
