UAE to Launch 16 New Indian Passport and Visa Centres Under Alhind

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Abu Dhabi: More than four million Indians living in the United Arab Emirates are set to see major changes to passport, visa and consular services after Kerala-based Alhind Group secured a new outsourcing contract from the Indian government.

Starting July 1, 2026, Alhind will operate 16 new service centres across all seven emirates, replacing BLS International, which has managed Indian consular support services in the UAE since 2011.

The new centres will handle passport renewals, fresh passport applications, visa processing, OCI cards, Police Clearance Certificates, surrender certificates and attestation-related services linked to the Embassy of India in Abu Dhabi and the Consulate General of India in Dubai.

According to reports, Alhind plans to introduce a simplified fee structure and expand access through centres in cities including Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Fujairah, Al Ain, Kalba and Khor Fakkan. The company also aims to digitise backend operations to improve processing efficiency and reduce waiting times.

The transition is expected to create more than 300 new jobs across the UAE as Alhind scales up operations ahead of the July rollout.

The switch is being closely watched because the Indian community in the UAE is the country’s largest expatriate population, and any disruption in passport or visa services could affect thousands of residents daily.