India and the UAE agreed to strengthen consular cooperation, expand digital services and improve citizen welfare through closer collaboration on visas, legal matters and document verification…reports Asian Lite News Desk
India and the United Arab Emirates have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening consular cooperation and improving services for their citizens, with both countries agreeing to deepen collaboration on visa, legal and digital initiatives during the seventh meeting of the India-UAE Joint Committee on Consular Affairs (JCCA).
The meeting, held in New Delhi, brought together senior officials from both governments to review progress made over the past year and identify new areas of cooperation aimed at improving the welfare, mobility and overall experience of citizens living, working and travelling between the two countries.
The Indian delegation was led by Sripriya Ranganathan, Secretary for Consular, Passport, Visa and Overseas Indian Affairs at the Ministry of External Affairs, while the UAE delegation was headed by Omar Obaid Alhesan Alshamsi, Undersecretary of the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
At the start of the meeting, Alhesan Alshamsi conveyed the greetings and best wishes of H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, expressing hopes for the continued success and prosperity of India and its people.
According to India’s Ministry of External Affairs, both sides reaffirmed that the welfare, safety and well-being of their citizens remain at the heart of bilateral cooperation and agreed to strengthen collaboration across consular, visa and legal matters.
Officials reviewed the implementation of decisions taken during the previous Joint Committee meeting, which was held in Abu Dhabi in November 2025, and welcomed the continued dialogue between the two governments on a wide range of consular issues.
One of the key outcomes of the meeting was an agreement to work towards integrating India’s DigiLocker digital document platform with relevant UAE systems to enable seamless authentication of Indian academic qualifications.
The initiative is expected to simplify the verification process for educational certificates and professional credentials, benefiting thousands of Indian professionals seeking employment opportunities in the UAE while supporting greater educational and economic cooperation between the two countries.
The Ministry of External Affairs said the integration would help streamline administrative procedures and improve access to employment and higher education opportunities for Indian nationals.
Officials also agreed that the next meeting of the Joint Committee on Consular Affairs will be held in Abu Dhabi on mutually agreed dates.
The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs described the meeting as part of the two countries’ shared efforts to strengthen consular cooperation and improve the quality of services provided to citizens of both nations.
During the discussions, Alhesan Alshamsi highlighted the comprehensive strategic partnership between the UAE and India, describing it as one of the region’s most dynamic bilateral relationships.
He noted that ties between the two countries have expanded significantly in recent years across political, economic, technological, educational and cultural sectors, supported by frequent high-level exchanges and growing institutional cooperation.
He also pointed to the impact of the India-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), saying it has created new opportunities for trade, investment and broader economic collaboration while contributing to the prosperity of both countries.
Officials from both sides acknowledged the important role played by people-to-people ties in strengthening the bilateral relationship.
The UAE reiterated that the Indian community remains an integral part of the country’s economic and social development, contributing across a wide range of sectors, while noting the growing number of Emirati citizens travelling to India for tourism, education and medical treatment.
The delegations discussed ways to further improve consular services by sharing expertise, adopting international best practices and expanding the use of digital technologies in service delivery.
Special emphasis was placed on digital transformation initiatives, including the use of technology to simplify document authentication and improve access to government services for citizens.
Both governments reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining close coordination and regular communication to ensure the effective implementation of the committee’s decisions.
They said continued cooperation would strengthen bilateral consular relations, respond more effectively to the needs of citizens and further enhance the quality, efficiency and accessibility of consular services provided by both countries.
The latest meeting reflects the growing depth of the India-UAE strategic partnership, which has expanded well beyond trade and investment to include closer collaboration in education, technology, mobility and public services, reinforcing the strong people-to-people links that underpin relations between the two nations.
