By Shweta Menon | Gulf Daily Mail

At a Glance

Key Highlights

• Alhind Group signed an agreement with Indian missions on 19 May 2026 to manage UAE consular services
• BLS International exits after 15 years as service provider
• 16 centres will open across all seven emirates from July 1
• Services include passports, visas, OCI cards, PCC, attestation and GEP verification
• AED 19 flat service fee confirmed
• Alhind also secured Indian CPV services contract for Sri Lanka during the same tender cycle

Alhind Group to Manage UAE Indian Consular Services

Thirty-four years after opening its first travel office in Kozhikode, Kerala, the Alhind Group is preparing to oversee one of the largest overseas Indian consular operations in the world.

On May 19, 2026, the company formally signed an agreement with the Embassy of India in Abu Dhabi and the Consulate General of India in Dubai, becoming the new authorised provider for Indian passport, visa and consular support services across the UAE.

The agreement follows an international tender floated in late 2025 and marks the end of BLS International’s 15-year tenure managing Indian consular services in the Emirates.

For the UAE’s estimated 4.3 million Indians — the largest overseas Indian community globally — the transition is expected to significantly expand access to services through 16 centres spread across all seven emirates.

“For the last two to three years we have been submitting bids. This time we gave the smallest quote, and we won.”

— Arun Radhakrishnan, Operations Manager, Alhind Group

The Tender Battle

The contract attracted four major contenders:

Alhind’s AED 19 per-transaction service charge reportedly emerged as the decisive factor in the bid evaluation.

The new pricing structure is expected to simplify fees for applicants, replacing the layered fee system that had often drawn criticism under the previous arrangement.

What Changes From July 1?

Beginning July 1, all Indian passport, visa and consular applications in the UAE will move to Alhind-operated centres.

Services Available

• Passport renewal and fresh applications
• Visa processing
• OCI card services
• Police Clearance Certificates (PCC)
• Surrender Certificates (SC)
• Global Entry Programme verification
• Apostille and document attestation
• General consular support

Alhind has also confirmed plans for:

• Extended operating hours
• Dedicated counters for corporate applicants
• Technology-enabled appointment systems
• Expanded customer-service operations

Where the Centres Will Be

Abu Dhabi Emirate

• Al Khalidiya / Al Danah
• Al Reem Island
• Mussafah
• Al Ain
• Gayathi
• Madinat Zayed

Dubai

• Central Dubai
• Furjan / Jebel Ali / DIP

Sharjah

• Al Majaz
• Rolla
• Jurf

Fujairah

• Fujairah City
• Khor Fakkan
• Kalba

Northern Emirates

• Ras Al Khaimah
• Umm Al Quwain

The wider geographic spread is expected to reduce long travel times for applicants living in the northern and eastern emirates.

Why BLS Lost the Contract

The transition comes after India’s Ministry of External Affairs reportedly barred BLS International from participating in new government tenders in 2025 following compliance concerns and applicant complaints in multiple jurisdictions.

Industry analysts estimate the UAE contract alone generated substantial annual revenue for BLS.

Observers are now closely watching whether Indian missions in other Gulf countries may also review their outsourcing arrangements.

A Major Expansion for Alhind

Founded in 1992, Alhind Group has evolved from a regional travel agency into a multinational travel and services network with over 130 offices worldwide.

The group already operates MEA-authorised attestation and apostille collection centres in major Indian cities including:

• Delhi
• Mumbai
• Chennai
• Hyderabad
• Lucknow

Alhind also secured Indian CPV service contracts in Sri Lanka during the same tender cycle, covering operations in Colombo, Kandy, Jaffna and Hambantota.

300 Jobs to Be Created

The rollout will also generate approximately 300 new jobs in the UAE.

The positions include:

• Biometric operators
• Customer-service executives
• Administrative staff
• Call-centre personnel
• Document processing specialists

Recruitment efforts are already underway ahead of the July launch.

Timeline of Events

What Applicants Should Do Now

Indian nationals in the UAE are being advised to:

• Complete pending BLS applications before June 30
• Check passport expiry dates early
• Monitor Indian Embassy and Consulate websites for new appointment systems
• Follow up on OCI applications already under process
• Prepare for fresh appointment bookings under Alhind after July 1

Corporate HR departments are also expected to begin coordinating large-scale renewal batches ahead of the transition.

Why This Matters

The UAE hosts one of India’s most strategically important overseas communities, spanning construction workers, healthcare professionals, entrepreneurs, students and corporate executives.

For many residents, delays involving passports, visas or OCI documentation can directly affect employment, residency status and travel plans.

The success of the Alhind rollout will therefore be closely watched not only in the UAE, but also by Indian missions across the Gulf region.

If executed smoothly, analysts say the contract could position Alhind as a serious challenger to global outsourcing giants in future Indian government service tenders across Saudi Arabia, Qatar and beyond.