The United Arab Emirates will see a major restructuring of Indian passport and visa services as Alhind Group takes charge of operations from July 1, 2026.
The Kerala-based company will run 16 centres across all seven emirates, replacing BLS International, which has managed outsourced consular services since 2011.
The UAE hosts the world’s largest Indian expatriate community, with over 4.3 million residents, making this transition one of the most significant changes in overseas consular service delivery.
The new centres will handle a wide range of services, including passport renewals, visa processing, OCI card applications, Police Clearance Certificates, attestation and apostille services, surrender certificates, and Global Entry verification. Operations will be coordinated with the Embassy of India in Abu Dhabi and the Consulate General of India in Dubai.
Alhind secured the contract after a competitive bidding process involving VFS Global, DU Digital Global, and SGIVS Global. Chairman Mohammed Haris T said the company aims to make services “more affordable and accessible,” with a standard service charge of Dh19 in addition to government fees. The fee will also cover support services such as printing and photography.
The group plans to introduce backend digitisation to reduce delays and improve efficiency. More than 300 staff will be hired across the UAE to support the new centres.
