The recent decision requiring Indian nationals in the UAE to visit the Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi or the Indian Consulate in Dubai without prior appointments for passport, visa, attestation, and other consular services is not merely an administrative adjustment. Instead, it is the outcome of an ongoing legal battle in Delhi over the tender process for overseas consular service contracts issued by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

Late on Wednesday evening, the Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi announced that, due to administrative reasons, both the Embassy and the Consulate in Dubai would temporarily provide limited consular services directly from their premises beginning July 2. The arrangement covers passport, visa, attestation, and miscellaneous consular services and will continue until further notice.

Planned Transition Interrupted

The UAE, home to nearly 4.5 million Indians, has traditionally relied on outsourced service providers for passport and attestation-related work. BLS International handled passport services, while SGIVS Global Services managed attestation services. Their contracts expired on June 30, 2026.
Following a fresh tender process conducted by the Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi, Alhind Tours and Travel LLC was selected as the new integrated service provider for the Indian Consular Application Centres (ICACs). The transition was scheduled to take effect from July 1 and was intended to ensure uninterrupted services for the Indian community as well as foreign nationals applying for Indian visas.

However, the planned handover could not proceed because of pending litigation before the Delhi High Court and the Supreme Court of India.

Origin of the Legal Dispute

The dispute began after two companies—E Trav Tech and Verasys—challenged the technical evaluation process adopted by the Indian Embassy while assessing bids submitted under the Request for Proposal (RFP).

The petitioners argued that they were never informed about the detailed marks awarded during the technical evaluation or the specific reasons for their disqualification. Although they initially questioned the tender conditions themselves, they later limited their challenge to seeking transparency regarding the evaluation process and the reasons behind their rejection.

Court Proceedings

The Delhi High Court upheld the government's authority to evaluate tenders and declined the petitioners' request for a detailed score-wise breakup at that stage. At the same time, the Court observed that unsuccessful bidders are entitled to know the reasons for their disqualification. It also noted that while the tender document requires such communication, it does not prescribe a specific timeline for providing those reasons.

Dissatisfied with the High Court's observations, E Trav Tech approached the Supreme Court.

On June 24, the Supreme Court declined to decide the matter on its merits but directed that the existing position be maintained until the dispute is resolved. It also instructed the Delhi High Court to hear the matter expeditiously.

Subsequently, the Delhi High Court heard the matter on June 29, clubbed all connected petitions together, and listed them for priority hearing. The hearing was later adjourned to July 2. During Thursday's proceedings, the Court reserved its judgment, and the matter continues to remain sub judice. As of now, no date has been announced for the pronouncement of the order.

Temporary Arrangements in the UAE

With the contracts of BLS International and SGIVS Global Services having expired, both companies have suspended their consular operations. At the same time, Alhind has been unable to formally assume charge because the Supreme Court's status quo order prevents any change in the existing arrangement until the legal issues are resolved.

Consequently, the Indian Embassy and Consulate have stepped in to ensure continuity of essential services.

From July 2 onwards, passport, visa, attestation, and other consular services are being provided directly from the Embassy and Consulate premises on a walk-in, first-come, first-served basis between 9:00 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Applicants are required to carry duly completed application forms along with all supporting documents. Only applicants are permitted inside the premises, except in cases where parents are accompanying minor children. Consular fees are being accepted only in cash, in accordance with the revised fee structure effective from July 1.

Impact on the Indian Community

The temporary disruption has affected one of the busiest overseas Indian missions. Between January 2022 and December 2024, the Embassy and Consulate together processed more than 1.58 million consular transactions, averaging nearly 1,760 services every working day. During 2024 alone, they handled over 364,000 passport-related applications.

The missions have clarified that the present in-house arrangement is only a temporary measure and that the transition to Alhind Tours and Travel LLC will be implemented once legal clarity emerges from the Delhi High Court.

Meanwhile, both BLS International and SGIVS Global Services have reportedly kept their offices, staff, and operational infrastructure intact without making any significant changes, anticipating that the outcome of the court proceedings may determine whether they continue providing services or hand over operations to the new service provider.

Until the Delhi High Court delivers its judgment and the legal issues surrounding the tender process are resolved, Indian passport and consular services in the UAE will continue to be managed directly by the Embassy and the Consulate, ensuring that essential services remain available despite the ongoing transition.