Indian expats in the UAE who cannot leave work on a weekday to collect a renewed passport now have another option. Alhind Global Services has opened a Sunday passport collection counter at all 16 Indian Consular Application Centres (ICACs) it runs across the country.
The service began on Sunday, 20 September, under the guidance of the Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi and the Indian Consulate in Dubai, Gulf News reported. It runs from 10am to 12pm.
What the Sunday counter does, and doesn’t do
The counter is strictly for collecting passports. Applications and other consular services are not available on Sundays, and the centres remain closed for those purposes. On other days, the ICACs operate from 8am to 6pm, Monday to Saturday.
The service is aimed at people who cannot get to a centre during the working week. It also helps residents who would otherwise wait for a courier over the weekend, and anyone who needs a passport quickly for travel or to process a new visa or Emirates ID.
Alhind said the counter was introduced in response to customer requests.
A rocky start, then a steadier operation
The Sunday service arrives after a difficult few months for Indian consular services in the UAE. Alhind won the outsourcing tender in November 2025. Its planned 1 July launch was delayed after two unsuccessful bidders challenged the tender’s evaluation process in the courts.
During the delay, the Indian Embassy and Consulate handled consular services directly, which Khaleej Times noted was the first time in 15 years. Many residents faced long queues and waits, and some changed their summer travel plans.
The centres finally opened on 22 July, after a Supreme Court order allowed the Ministry of External Affairs to proceed while legal proceedings over the tender continue. Gulf News reported that the early weeks brought queues, longer processing times and complaints from applicants.
Two months on, Alhind says the position has improved. It told Khaleej Times that 100 per cent of the backlog has been cleared, appointments are fully available across its centres and operations are running smoothly and on time.
How appointments and fees work
Applicants must still book through the consularsevainuae.com portal. New slots are released at 9am and 9pm each day, Monday to Saturday. Applicants are only admitted 15 minutes before their appointment.
Walk-ins are accepted for a limited set of cases: Tatkal passports, newborn applications, Emergency Certificate requests and senior citizens aged 60 and above.
Alhind charges a flat service fee of Dh19, inclusive of VAT, on top of the Government of India’s passport fees, which were revised from 1 July 2026. The fee covers help with forms, photographs, photocopies and courier arrangements.
Where the centres are
The 16 centres cover all seven emirates. Six are in Abu Dhabi emirate, in Al Danah, Al Reem Island, Musaffah, Madinat Zayed, Ghayathi and Al Ain. Dubai has two, including the 12,000-square-foot flagship at UW Mall in Bur Dubai.
Tips for using the Sunday counter
- Check that your passport is ready for collection before you go, since the counter cannot take applications.
- Bring the documents your centre asked for when you applied, including any collection receipt.
- Arrive within the 10am–12pm window, as the counter closes at noon.
- Use the Sunday option if you would otherwise pay for or wait on a weekend courier.
What it signals
For a community of millions, small changes to opening hours matter. The Sunday counter does not replace a full weekend service, but it does address one of the commonest complaints, the difficulty of collecting documents without taking time off.
Applicants who still face delays should contact the centre or the Indian mission that guides the service, and keep appointment confirmations and receipts.
