India’s Embassy in Abu Dhabi has awarded Kerala-based Alhind Group a multi-year outsourcing contract that will overhaul consular support for more than four million Indians living in the United Arab Emirates. From 1 July 2026, Alhind will replace BLS International— the incumbent since 2011— and open 16 service centres covering every emirate, including secondary cities such as Al Ain, Kalba and Khor Fakkan. The centres will process passport renewals, OCI cards, police-clearance certificates and Indian visa applications, while also providing apostille, attestation and Global Entry verification services. Alhind says it will introduce a single all-inclusive service fee of AED 19 (≈ ₹430) above government charges and deploy a new digital back-office to cut turnaround times.
![Alhind Wins Contract to Run 16 New Indian Passport & Visa Centres Across the UAE]()
For applicants looking to stay ahead of the documentation curve, VisaHQ can simplify the entire process. The company’s India portal (https://www.visahq.com/india/) provides real-time requirements, customized check-lists and door-to-door courier options for passports, visas and attestations—helpful resources that complement the new Alhind centres and keep travellers moving without disruption.
More than 300 local staff are being recruited; the company promises extended evening hours to reduce queues during peak travel periods. For Indian employers operating in the Gulf, the switch means updating vendor master data, power-of-attorney letters and payment workflows before July. Mobility teams should also brief travellers that existing appointments made with BLS for dates after 30 June will be migrated to the nearest Alhind facility. The Embassy has advised applicants to monitor its website for revised document check-lists that will accompany the transition. Industry analysts view the tender outcome as a bellwether for India’s wider strategy of diversifying service providers and driving down consular fees worldwide. If successful, similar multi-centre models could be rolled out in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Kingdom—three missions currently preparing new passport-services tenders.
For applicants looking to stay ahead of the documentation curve, VisaHQ can simplify the entire process. The company’s India portal (https://www.visahq.com/india/) provides real-time requirements, customized check-lists and door-to-door courier options for passports, visas and attestations—helpful resources that complement the new Alhind centres and keep travellers moving without disruption.
More than 300 local staff are being recruited; the company promises extended evening hours to reduce queues during peak travel periods. For Indian employers operating in the Gulf, the switch means updating vendor master data, power-of-attorney letters and payment workflows before July. Mobility teams should also brief travellers that existing appointments made with BLS for dates after 30 June will be migrated to the nearest Alhind facility. The Embassy has advised applicants to monitor its website for revised document check-lists that will accompany the transition. Industry analysts view the tender outcome as a bellwether for India’s wider strategy of diversifying service providers and driving down consular fees worldwide. If successful, similar multi-centre models could be rolled out in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Kingdom—three missions currently preparing new passport-services tenders.
