Ambassador Dr. Deepak Mittal promises no prior appointment for Special Needs and Senior Citizens during Sharjah Indian Association interactive session
SHARJAH, UAE – July 23, 2026 : People of Determination (individuals with special needs) will no longer require prior appointments to access Indian passport and consular services across the United Arab Emirates, Indian Ambassador to the UAE Dr. Deepak Mittal announced today. Senior citizens will also receive dedicated priority counter service to eliminate waiting queues across all consular processing centres.
Ambassador Mittal made the announcement while addressing a major community interactive session hosted at the Sharjah Indian Association Community Hall. The event was attended by Joydeep Mohanto, Consul (Culture) at the Consulate General of India, along with office bearers from Indian Associations and Social Centres across the Northern Emirates, including Ajman, Fujairah, Khorfakkan, and Kalba.
Expanding Expatriate Footprint & Cultural Diplomacy
Highlighting the exponential growth of the Indian diaspora in the UAE—which has doubled over the past decade to become the largest non-resident Indian community globally—the Ambassador emphasized the strengthening bilateral frameworks between both nations.
He cited landmark institutional achievements, including the setup of the first overseas IIT campus in Abu Dhabi and IIM campus in Dubai, as historic milestones of this partnership.
Calling for active participation in the upcoming Pravasi Bharatiya Divas in January 2027, Dr. Mittal urged community members to contribute collectively toward the Viksit Bharat 2047 vision. Aligning with local initiatives, he encouraged Indian expatriates to foster closer ties with Emirati families under the ‘Year of Family’ theme to deepen Indo-Arab youth collaboration and cultural exchange.
Following the interactive session—presided over by Association President Nizar Thalangara, General Secretary Sreeprakash Purayath, and Treasurer Shaji John—Ambassador Mittal personally inspected the newly commissioned Alhind Passport and Consular Services Centre at the Sharjah Indian Association premises.
