Indian expatriates in the United Arab Emirates woke up on 23 October to find that four Indian Consular Application Centres (ICACs)—two in Abu Dhabi, one in Dubai and one in Sharjah—had shut their doors the previous day. The Embassy said the closures were “administrative” but follow months of legal wrangling over a lucrative outsourcing contract worth an estimated Dh180 million a year. Kerala-based Alhind Tours & Travels won the tender in June, replacing incumbent BLS International, only for two rival bidders to challenge the decision in India’s Delhi High Court. Although Alhind began interim operations on 22 July, the court has now ordered a fresh tender that must be completed by 26 October. Until then the company will run 12 remaining centres, while the Embassy and Consulate in Dubai continue to handle Tatkal passports, emergency certificates and walk-ins for senior citizens. For the UAE’s 4.5 million-strong Indian community—the world’s largest overseas Indian population—the disruption means longer drives, tighter appointment windows and higher fees. Normal passport renewals now cost Dh450, up from Dh285, while Tatkal rates can hit Dh1,080. Visa and Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) applications are also affected, prompting travel agents to warn of itinerary changes during the busy Diwali season. Corporate-mobility managers should advise assignees to book slots at least four weeks ahead and to carry confirmed air tickets if applying under Tatkal. HR teams may also need to extend UAE-resident-permit renewal timelines, as passports must be valid for six months to re-stamp visas. Embassy officials insist the service gap is temporary and that fresh bids will be evaluated under stricter transparency rules. They have also hinted at introducing an app-based queue system to reduce lines once a new provider is in place.
Source: Khaleej Times
