Indian Embassy Closes 4 Consular Centres in UAE
The Indian Embassy has closed four consular centres in the UAE. Find out the new locations for passport and visa services.
The Indian Embassy in the United Arab Emirates has officially discontinued operations at four Indian Consular Application Centres (ICACs) effective October 22, 2026. The decision, which has been attributed to administrative reasons, marks a significant shift in how consular services are distributed across the Emirates.
Affected Locations
The closure affects several key areas, potentially causing localized inconvenience for residents in the following regions:
- Musaffah, Abu Dhabi
- Al Reem, Abu Dhabi
- Dubai Investment Park-I
- Al Majaz, Sharjah
While the move is described as a streamlining effort by the Embassy, it impacts the accessibility of essential services for the approximately four million Indian expatriates living in the UAE.
Alternative Service Options
Despite the shutdown of these four specific sites, consular services—including passport processing, visa applications, and document attestation—remain fully operational. Applicants can continue to access these services through 12 other designated locations operated by Al Hind Tours & Travels.
To further assist the community, the Embassy has announced the opening of new passport collection points starting October 25. These new facilities will be located at:
- UW Mall in Bur Dubai
- Al Danah
Operational Guidelines for Applicants
For those using the remaining active centres, the Embassy has provided specific guidelines to ensure smooth processing:
- Operating Hours: Centres are open daily from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM.
- Appointment Entry: Applicants are permitted to enter the premises 15 minutes prior to their scheduled appointment time.
These operational changes have been confirmed by official reports from the Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi and various major news outlets including Khaleej Times, Economic Times, and Hindustan Times.