By Business & Diaspora Desk | Updated July 8, 2026
A multi-million dollar corporate legal war has brought Indian consular services in the UAE to a grinding halt, leaving thousands of expats stranded in punishing summer queues.
At the center of the chaos is a highly lucrative contract to manage passport renewals, visa applications, and attestations for the UAE’s 4.5 million-strong Indian expat community—the largest in the world. With the Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi and the Consulate in Dubai processing over 600,000 transactions a year, private players are locked in a bitter, high-stakes court battle to control the massive revenue stream.
While disqualified bidders and the newly appointed agency duke it out in India’s highest courts, ordinary citizens are paying the price—forced to stand in lines snaking outside embassy gates in the sweltering July heat.
🔴 LIVE UPDATES: Corporate Greed vs. Expat Misery
- The Stalled Handover: The previous contract held by BLS International expired on June 30. A new single-window provider, Alhind Tours & Travels, won the fresh three-year contract after bidding the lowest fee. However, its July 1 launch has been legally frozen.
- The Legal Standoff: Two disqualified bidders—E Trav Tech and Verasys—have dragged the Indian government to court. They allege the technical scoring system was completely “arbitrary” after being eliminated without feedback. One company claims it was given zero marks for turnaround time despite promising a 30-minute processing window.
- The Supreme Court Intervenes: India’s Supreme Court ordered a strict status quo, effectively stopping Alhind from opening its 14 planned “one-roof” application centers until the Delhi High Court issues a final ruling.
- The Emergency Fix: With private operations paralyzed, the Indian Embassy and Dubai Consulate have been forced to take over all operations directly. They are running emergency, first-come, first-served walk-in services from 9:00 AM to 12:30 PM, Monday to Saturday.
The Reality Check: No appointments are being accepted, card payments are blocked, and applicants are being told to bring exact cash. Over 1,400 desperate expats flooded the Dubai consulate in a single day last week, forcing officials to erect emergency tents and deploy over 100 staff members just to prevent a total stampede.
We are tracking the Delhi High Court’s upcoming verdict and live updates from the ground in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Refresh this page for the latest operational changes.
