Sixteen Indian consular centres across UAE begin operations, serving thousands daily.
Dubai: Hundreds of Indian nationals arrived early on Wednesday as the UAE’s new network of Indian Consular Application Centres (ICACs) officially began operations following weeks of uncertainty and legal challenges.
The launch marks the most significant change to Indian passport and consular services in the UAE in several years.
The services, now managed by Al Hind Tours & Travels, are being provided through 16 centres across the UAE, replacing the in-person passport, visa, attestation and consular application facilities previously available at the Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi and the Consulate General of India in Dubai.
Speaking at the opening of the flagship centre at UW Mall in Bur Dubai, Mohammed Haris, Chairman and Founder of Al Group of Companies, said the response from applicants was strong from the start.
“Nearly 2,000 applicants booked appointments this morning after the new website went live,” Haris said.
The new ICAC network began operations on July 22, 2026, after the Government of India outsourced passport, visa, attestation and consular services in the UAE to Al Hind Tours & Travels.
The transition follows a Supreme Court order permitting the Ministry of External Affairs to move ahead with the new outsourcing arrangement while legal proceedings related to the tender process remain ongoing.
The centres operate from 8am to 6pm, with appointment slots made available twice daily through the new online booking portal.
70 counters at flagship centre
The Bur Dubai facility, described as the largest Indian Consular Application Centre in the UAE, features 70 service counters and has the capacity to handle around 600 applicants per day.
“The second-largest centre is located in Dubai Investment Park,” Haris added.
Once fully operational, the network of 16 centres across the UAE will be able to process up to 8,000 applications daily.
To support the launch, around 350 employees have been recruited to manage operations across the centres.
Dh19 service fee
Applicants will pay a fixed Dh19 service charge in addition to the Government of India application fee.
According to Haris, the fee covers several services that applicants previously had to pay for separately, including:
- Photograph services
- Photocopying
- Printing
- Form-filling assistance
- Other supporting application services
“There are no premium services,” Haris said, adding that all applicants will receive the same standard of service in line with Government of India policy.
Application process completed in around 30 minutes
Officials said the application submission process has been streamlined and can be completed in approximately 30 minutes, as long as applicants arrive with all required documents.
Officials from the Indian Consulate said appointment slots are released twice daily at 9am and 9pm through the new online booking system.
All consular services under one roof
The new centres provide a range of services, including:
- Passport applications
- Visa services
- Attestation services
- OCI-related services
- Other Indian consular services
Applicants no longer need to visit the Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi or the Consulate General of India in Dubai to submit these applications.
