The Supreme Court of India has upheld the Delhi High Court’s decision to cancel the Ministry of External Affairs’ (MEA) tender process for outsourcing passport, visa and consular services at Indian missions in Abu Dhabi, Kuwait, Singapore and Canberra.

A Bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant dismissed the Centre’s appeal, directing the MEA to comply with the High Court’s ruling and complete a fresh tender process within three months.

To ensure there is no disruption to services, the Supreme Court allowed the MEA to continue with the existing service providers or temporarily engage the lowest (L-1) bidders whose contracts had previously been set aside. The ministry may also make any other suitable interim arrangements until the new tender process is completed.

The court clarified that these temporary measures will not create any legal rights for any party and will remain in place only until fresh contracts are awarded.

According to legal reports, the Bench, which also included Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V. Mohana, heard arguments from Solicitor General Tushar Mehta on behalf of the Union Government, along with senior advocates representing the private companies involved in the case.

The ruling means the MEA must restart the tender process while following the directions issued by the Delhi High Court.

Meanwhile, due to the ongoing legal proceedings, Indian diplomatic missions in Abu Dhabi and Dubai have been providing passport and consular services directly from their premises, ensuring that services for the Indian community in the UAE continue without interruption.

Residents in the UAE should be prepared for extreme heat this week as temperatures are expected to soar to as high as 49°C, according to the National Centre of Meteorology (NCM).

On Monday, coastal areas are forecast to record highs between 40°C and 46°C, while inland regions could see temperatures climbing to 49°C. Although coastal temperatures are expected to ease slightly later in the week, inland areas will continue to experience intense heat, with highs ranging from 41°C to 47°C.

The NCM said skies will remain partly cloudy throughout the week. Light to moderate winds are expected, occasionally strengthening and reaching speeds of 35km/h to 40km/h.

Humidity is also forecast to rise on Thursday morning, especially in coastal and inland areas, adding to the uncomfortable conditions despite fair to partly cloudy skies.

Over the weekend, the UAE recorded a scorching 48.2°C in Madinat Zayed, Al Dhafra Region, at 2:45pm on Sunday, highlighting the intensity of this year’s summer heat.

Why does it feel hotter?

According to Emirati astronomer Ibrahim Al Jarwan, summer in the UAE and across the Arabian Peninsula stretches from June to the end of August, with temperatures typically peaking during July and August.

While July is usually the hottest month, August often feels even more uncomfortable due to rising humidity levels.

High humidity, particularly in coastal areas, makes the air feel much hotter than the actual temperature. As moisture increases during the second half of summer, the body struggles to cool itself efficiently, resulting in a higher ‘feels like’ temperature.
The intense heat is also being fuelled by moderate El Nino conditions, which the NCM had earlier predicted as having a 99% chance of persisting through December. Although El Nino develops in the Pacific Ocean, it influences global weather patterns, contributing to near-to-above-average temperatures across the UAE. These conditions could pave the way for more active autumn weather systems, increasing the likelihood of cloud formation and rainfall later in the year.

Parents and students in Abu Dhabi can now obtain an officially attested private school fee certificate in just six minutes through the TAMM government services platform, making the process quicker and more convenient than ever.

The fully digital service allows users to request and receive a certified tuition fee certificate without uploading any supporting documents. This certificate is commonly required for government procedures, financial aid requests, scholarship applications, and other official purposes.

Applying is simple and can be completed entirely online. Users need to sign in using their UAE PASS account, submit the application, pay the Dh15 service fee electronically, and download the certified digital certificate once it is issued.

By moving the entire process online, TAMM helps families save time while providing fast access to an important document whenever it’s needed for official or financial requirements.