India

And India’s population in UAE is …

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India’s foreign minister has revealed the latest statistics, showing a marked influx into the UAE in recent months.

Published

3 years ago

August 14, 2023

Staff Reporter

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The number of Indians living in the UAE has crossed 3.5 million, with more than 130,000 making the move since the end of last year, new figures show.

India’s Minister of State for External Affairs, V Muraleedharan, announced the latest migration numbers at a session of the Lok Sabha, the lower house of the country’s parliament, on Saturday.

The Burj Khalifa in Dubai lights up with the Indian flag on the occasion of the latter’s Republic Day celebrations in January. Courtesy Emaar

He revealed 3.554 million Indians reside in the Emirates, up from 3.419 million at the end of 2022. He said the UAE remained the most popular destination for Indian citizens seeking work overseas.

The Gulf region continues to attract an influx of Indian talent, with a total of 7.93 million living in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar and Oman alone.

The Indian government has established Overseas Indian Help Centres in Dubai, Riyadh, Jeddah and Kuala Lumpur to help meet the needs of an increasingly mobile workforce, he said in remarks carried by state news agency Wam on Sunday.

India prepares to mark its 77th Independence Day on Tuesday as it has evolved into a 1.4 billion-strong nation among the third world countries. The majority of the remittance by non-resident Indians come from those living in the Gulf countries.

The visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the United Arab Emirates in July served as another proof of the strong ties that unite the two nations.

Since taking power in 2014, Mr Modi has travelled to the UAE five times. The esteemed Indian Institute of Technology, or IIT, will start offering classes in Abu Dhabi in 2019, the nation’s envoy to the UAE announced in February.

The long-awaited Hindu temple in Abu Dhabi will finally be completed in February after four years of meticulous work by artisans in India and the UAE.

The site, which spans 5.4 hectares, was donated to the Indian community in 2015 by President Sheikh Mohamed, who was then Abu Dhabi’s Crown Prince.

Related Topics:#UAE diaspora expatriates Featured India NRI population

Staff Reporter

India

Indian passport fees increase in UAE: Here’s the new price list

Published

1 week ago

July 2, 2026

Michael Gomes

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Indian nationals in the UAE will have to pay more for passport and related consular services from July 1, following a revision in fees announced by the Embassy of India in Abu Dhabi and the Consulate General of India in Dubai.

The new charges apply to passport applications submitted through the embassy, consulate and the new Indian Consular Application Centres (ICACs) across the UAE.

Why are the fees increasing?

The revised charges follow updated passport rules introduced by India’s Ministry of External Affairs on June 20. The new fee structure applies to Indian passport services worldwide, including in the UAE.

What are the new passport fees?

The revised fees are as follows:

36-page passport (new or renewal): Dh450
60-page passport (new or renewal): Dh630
36-page Tatkal passport: Dh900
60-page Tatkal passport: Dh1,080
Replacement of a lost or damaged 36-page passport: Dh900
Tatkal replacement of a lost or damaged 36-page passport: Dh1,350
Replacement of a lost or damaged 60-page passport: Dh1,080
Tatkal replacement of a lost or damaged 60-page passport: Dh1,530

Who will be affected?

The revised fees apply to all eligible passport applications submitted from July 1, including:

New passport applications.
Passport renewals.
Tatkal (urgent) applications.
Replacement of lost or damaged passports.

What should applicants do?

If you’re planning to apply for or renew your Indian passport in the UAE, check the revised fees before booking your appointment.

The updated charges will apply at:

Embassy of India, Abu Dhabi.
Consulate General of India, Dubai.
Indian Consular Application Centres (ICACs) across the UAE.

With around 4.5 million Indians living in the UAE, the revised fee structure will affect one of the country’s largest overseas communities.

Health

UAE to India travellers face new mandatory health declaration

Published

2 weeks ago

June 30, 2026

Michael Gomes

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If you’re travelling from the UAE to India, there’s a new travel requirement you shouldn’t miss.

India has introduced Air Suvidha 2.0, a mandatory online health declaration system for all international arrivals. The form must be completed within 24 hours before your flight and is required before passengers are allowed to board.

The new system was introduced by India’s civil aviation authorities as a precautionary measure in response to the ongoing Ebola outbreak.

What is Air Suvidha 2.0?

Air Suvidha 2.0 is an online self-declaration portal where travellers must provide their recent travel and health information before flying to India.

Passengers will be asked to submit details including:

Their travel history over the past 21 days
Any possible exposure to infectious diseases
Whether they are experiencing any related symptoms

Once the form is submitted, it is automatically shared with the Airport Health Organisation (APHO) under India’s Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

Is the form mandatory?

Yes. All international passengers travelling to India are required to complete the Air Suvidha Self Declaration Form before boarding their flight.

Airlines may ask passengers to show proof that the form has been submitted before allowing them to travel.

Do you need a printed copy?

No. After submitting the form, travellers will receive a confirmation by email, which can simply be shown on a mobile phone upon arrival in India. There’s no need to carry a printed copy.

Completing the form in advance also helps speed up the arrival process by reducing paperwork at the airport.

India

Waiting for Indian passport services in the UAE? Here’s the latest update

Published

2 weeks ago

June 30, 2026

Michael Gomes

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Indian nationals in the UAE will have to wait a little longer for regular passport, visa and attestation services to resume.

The Embassy of India in Abu Dhabi and the Consulate General of India in Dubai have announced that they will continue offering only emergency consular services until July 1, extending the temporary suspension of routine services by an additional day.

In a post on the missions’ official X account, the embassy said emergency requests for passports, visas, attestation and other consular services will continue to be processed during the transition period.

Why the delay?

The extension comes as the Indian missions complete the handover of outsourced passport, visa and attestation services to Alhind Tours and Travel LLC, which is set to begin operations in the UAE from July 1.

Under the transition plan, previous service providers BLS International and SGIVS Global stopped accepting new applications after June 25, while regular appointments were suspended from June 26.

The missions said the extension is due to administrative reasons.

Need urgent assistance?

Applicants with emergency requirements can contact the Indian missions through:

Toll-free: 800 46342 (800 INDIA)
WhatsApp: +971 54 309 0571
Email: pbsk.dubai@mea.gov.in

The embassy said details about the resumption of normal services from July 2 onwards will be announced separately and advised applicants to follow its official social media channels for updates.