The weekly counter for passport collection, introduced by Indian consular centers in the UAE in September 2026, addresses one of the most common issues faced by expatriates: obtaining documents without taking a day off work. However, this convenience comes in a year when the renewal of Indian passports has become more expensive and the transition of services to a new contractor has gone through the courts.
Since July 1, 2026, the cost of renewing an Indian passport has significantly increased. The standard 36-page adult passport rose from 285 to 450 dirhams, marking the first price change since 2012. Indian communities in the UAE have strongly opposed the price hike, arguing that it further burdens expatriates, especially blue-collar workers and those with low incomes.
Samovoljnost, neracionalnost i nedostatak transparentnosti u procesu ocene tendera.
, Visoki sud u Delhiju, 15. jul 2026.
The transition of passport, visa, and document attestation services to Alhind Tours & Travels LLC in the UAE was far from smooth. Initially planned for July 1, 2026, it was delayed due to legal challenges. The Delhi High Court annulled Alhind's contract on July 15, 2026, citing arbitrariness, irrationality, and a lack of transparency in the tender evaluation process.
- Zakažite termin onlajn preko consularsevainuae.com; novi termini se objavljuju u 9 i u 21 čas.
- Za preuzimanje pasoša iskoristite nedeljni pult, ali proverite tačno radno vreme pre polaska, jer se podaci razlikuju.
- Nedeljom se pasoši samo preuzimaju, novi zahtevi se ne primaju.
- Bez zakazivanja mogu da dođu Tatkal podnosioci, roditelji novorođenčadi, podnosioci zahteva za hitni sertifikat, osobe starije od 60 godina i osobe sa invaliditetom.
- Alhind naplaćuje servisnu taksu od 19 dirhama, uključujući PDV, popunjavanje formulara i kurirsku dostavu.
This legal setback forced Indian missions to temporarily handle a limited range of consular services themselves, leading to significant delays, long queues, and complaints from the Indian diaspora, which numbers 4.5 million in the UAE. A temporary arrangement, approved by the Supreme Court of India, finally allowed 16 Indian Consular Application Centers (ICAC) to begin operations on July 22, 2026.
The new Sunday counter is intended for working professionals and those in urgent need of documents, allowing personal collection on a day traditionally closed for such services. However, Sunday operating hours are inconsistent: Gulf News reported from 10 AM to 12 PM, while another source mentioned from 9 AM to 5 PM, with a break for prayer and rest between 1 PM and 2 PM.
What is certain is that Sundays are reserved exclusively for passport collection, and new applications are not accepted on that day.
Despite initial operational hurdles, Indian missions claim that all previous backlogs have been cleared and that operations in the 16 centers are now running smoothly, efficiently, and on time. Between July 22 and August 22, 2026, the centers processed over 53,000 services, including around 44,000 passports, demonstrating both high demand and improved efficiency after the initial delays.
Applications are mostly submitted by appointment online through the website consularsevainuae.com, with new slots opening daily at 9 AM and 9 PM. Certain categories can come without an appointment: Tatkal passport applicants, parents of newborns, emergency certificate applicants, people over 60, and persons with disabilities, on a first-come, first-served basis.
Passport, visa, and document attestation services are no longer processed directly at the Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi or the Indian Consulate General in Dubai, a change that expatriates have had to adapt to along with new prices and scheduling rules.
Further digitalization is on the horizon. The Indian Consulate in Dubai has announced plans to introduce more technology into passport services to reduce reliance on intermediaries and the need for physical visits to service centers. This means that development could continue beyond the current online appointment system, allowing some tasks to be completed without visiting the counter.
