Sixteen New Indian Passport Centres (NIPCs) in UAE are fully equipped but are still waiting for a change in the law, as it put a halt to the transfer of Indian consular services to Alhind Global Services. In the meantime, a long-running case pending before the Delhi High Court has forced a pause on the operation of the centres, with most of the offices across the UAE still bare of inhabitants.
With creativity (passport) blanketed and an empty signing hand, the center at Alhind’s biggest Consular, Passport, Visa (CPV) application center at UW Mall in Dubai seemed to be empty. No one was using the waiting areas or service counters, and staff were doing internal system simulations. A total of 12,000 square feet in the centre has a capacity of over 45 service counters and was designed keeping in mind the convenience of the applicants while rendering services for Passport/Document Attestation/Conular Service with reduced waiting time.
16 Centres Ready Across the UAE
Alhind has set up 16 passport and consular centres in the UAE, including the UAE Embassies in:
- Dubai (UW Mall)
- Dubai Investment Park (DIP)
- Al Danah, (Abu Dhabi)
- Al Reem
- Musaffah
- Al Ain
- Madinat Zayed
- Al Majaz
- Rolla
- Ajman
- Fujairah
- Umm Al Quwain
- Khorfakkan
- Kalba
- Ras Al Khaimah
- Gayathi (Al Dhafra Region)
The new Gayathi centre will boost access to thousands of Indians working in Ruwais and Al Dhafra, once it opens.
Why the Launch Has Been Delayed
The outsourcing contract goes to Alhind Global Services as the lowest bidder in a competitive tendering process which began in the Embassy of India during the last few months of 2025. The company has been chosen to serve the UAE’s Indian passport, visa and consular needs since 2011 when BLS International assumed the duties.
But two people who had lost bids have questioned the tender process in the Delhi High Court, stating that such disqualification was unfair to them at the technical evaluation stage. A final court decision in this case is likely soon which will help to determine when the transition can be made.
Passport Services Continue Through Indian Missions
Currently, Consulate General of India, Dubai and Embassy of India, Abu Dhabi are offering both passport and consular services directly, while the legal proceedings are underway. Before the change applicants were not required to make an appointment in advance; instead they were able to walk in at either mission.The previous practice was a walk-in program; now future applicants are required to make an appointment in advance with both missions.
They also have witnessed numerous more applications for consular services during the summer travel season, when more than 1,000 people requested services from the consular offices on many days. All Indians who need to renew their passports or avail any consular services are encouraged to make advance appointments on the official website till the new centres come up.
