The Embassy of India Abu Dhabi has awarded a major contract for outsourcing consular support services in the United Arab Emirates to Alhind Tours & Travels Pvt Ltd, according to an official notice issued on April 20.
The contract covers a wide range of services, including passport and visa processing, Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) applications, police clearance certificates, surrender certificates, Global Entry Program verification and document attestation. These services will be provided at the embassy in Abu Dhabi as well as the Consulate General of India Dubai.
The decision follows a tender process launched in November 2025. Financial bids from four shortlisted companies were opened on March 30, 2026. Alongside Alhind, the bidders included DU Digital Global Ltd, SGIVS Global LLC and VFS Global.
In its statement, the embassy said Alhind was selected after being declared the lowest financial bidder under the evaluation process. The contract award marks a shift in service provision, as BLS International Services Ltd had handled consular outsourcing operations for Indian missions in the UAE for several years.
The embassy has not yet provided a timeline for when the new arrangements will come into effect. However, a source familiar with the process indicated that Alhind must meet specified operational criteria within 60 days of the contract award before services can begin.
The change comes after India’s Ministry of External Affairs barred BLS International from bidding for new contracts for two years in October 2025. The decision followed allegations including court cases and complaints from applicants, according to official records at the time.
Alhind Tours & Travels, founded in 1992 in the southern Indian state of Kerala, has expanded its operations across the Middle East since the mid-1990s. The company is part of a broader group with interests in travel, foreign exchange, information technology and luxury services. It has also recently received approval to launch a domestic airline in India.
The outsourcing of consular services is intended to streamline administrative processes and improve access for the large Indian expatriate community in the UAE, which relies on such services for documentation and official procedures.
Officials have not commented on whether any transitional arrangements will be put in place during the handover period. The embassy said further details will be announced once implementation plans are finalised.
