India will begin using Al Hind for UAE passport and visa services on July 1, 2026.
A new service provider will soon be available to Indian passport holders in the United Arab Emirates. Al Hind Tours & Travels will take over for BLS International and SGIVS Global on July 1, 2026, handling Indian passport, visa, and consular applications. New information on appointments, costs, and service locations is anticipated soon. Current centers will remain open until June 30.
Beginning on July 1, 2026, Indian passport holders in the UAE will have to use a new service provider. Al Hind Tours and Travels LLC will handle passport, visa, and consular application processing throughout the United Arab Emirates, according to confirmation from the Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi.
Nothing has changed as of yet. Applications will be accepted by SGIVS Global and BLS International through June 30, 2026.
Al Hind Acquires Indian Passport and Visa Services in the United Arab EmiratesAl Hind-run centers will handle any passport renewal, visa application, OCI-related request, or consular service submitted on or after July 1.
The change is applicable to services managed by the Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi and the Indian Consulate General in Dubai, which together serve one of the biggest Indian communities living abroad.What Candidates Need to Do
Proceed as scheduled if you already have an appointment with SGIVS or BLS before June 30.
Wait for updated information on the following if your application deadline extends into July:
Locations of service centers
How to schedule an appointment
Fees for processing
Operating hours
Contacts for customer service
These specifics will be made public individually via the Indian mission's official channels.
Why Travelers Need to Be Aware
Visa renewals, passport services, and document attestations are standard requirements for Indians who travel, reside, or work in the United Arab Emirates. Where applications are submitted, how appointments are scheduled, and how quickly requests proceed through the system can all be impacted by a change in the service provider.These kinds of changes can temporarily alter appointment availability and service center procedures, but they rarely have an impact on eligibility or processing criteria.
In my experience monitoring consular changes throughout the Gulf, applicants benefit most from reading official updates during the initial weeks following a provider change rather than depending on outdated booking links or agency recommendations.
Rather than being disruptive, we view this as a practical administrative change. Before scheduling appointments, I would wait for Al Hind's rollout information and keep using the current centers until June 30.
