Thousands of Indian nationals in the UAE who rely on local consular centres to renew or apply for passports now have one fewer option after four application centres shut down this week. The closures affect centres in Musaffah and Al Reem in Abu Dhabi, Dubai Investment Park-I, and Al Majaz in Sharjah.
The Indian Embassy described the closures as being for "administrative reasons," but the move traces back to a legal dispute over the outsourcing contract for these services. The two companies that previously ran the centres ended their contracts in July, and a new Indian firm that won the subsequent tender ran into legal trouble almost immediately. Delhi High Court found the bidding process "arbitrary, opaque, and in violation of constitutional requirements," and ordered it to be redone. bids from new service providers are due by 3pm on Monday, October 26. Until a new operator is confirmed, applicants are being directed to the 12 centres that remain open across the UAE, which continue to operate from 8am to 6pm daily.
Appointments are booked through the official portal, consularsevainuae.com, with new slots released twice a day, at 9am and 9pm. The embassy has asked applicants to arrive no more than 15 minutes before their scheduled slot and to bring complete documentation to avoid delays. Urgent Tatkal services remain available for newborns and applicants aged 60 and above.
The disruption highlights how a legal fight over a routine service contract can ripple into real delays for one of the UAE's largest expatriate communities. Until the retender process concludes and a permanent provider is in place, residents needing passport services may face longer waits and should plan appointments well ahead of travel or document deadlines.