Indian Consulate in Dubai to limit services, restrict entry

Dubai: The Indian consulate in Dubai will limit its services and restrict entry of people in its premises and at outsourced service providers from Sunday as a preventive measure against the coronavirus pandemic.

"In view of prevailing situation due to COVID-19, health authorities have advised that there should be less crowding in public area and people should visit public places only in emergency situations," Gulf News quoted the Mission as saying in an advisory issued on Thursday evening.

"Accordingly, Consulate General of India also requests the Indian community as well as all others to approach the consulate for various services only if they consider them to be absolutely essential."

The advisory also said that attestation services provided by the Indian Association Sharjah, Indian Association Ajman, IRC Ras Al Khaimah, Indian Association Umm Al Quwain, Indian Social Club Fujairah, Indian Social Club Kalba and Indian Social Club Khorfakkan will not be available for at least the next two weeks.

In case any Indian national residing in these Emirates has any emergency requirement for attestation work, he/she may visit the IVS Attestation Centre in Dubai.

The IVS Attestation Centre will deliver only a limited number of attestation services and only if they are of an emergency nature.

The mission advised that a visit to the Consulate should be avoided as far as possible and cases are taken up by email (cons1.dubai@mea.gov.in, cons3.dubai@mea.gov.in and conssec.dubai@mea.gov.in), reports the Gulf News.

The Consulate appealed to everyone to cooperate with the mission "as these measures are for the safety of all. These measures will be under constant review and normal services will be resumed as soon as the situation improves", the advisory added.

As of Friday, there were 140 coronavirus cases in the United Arab Emirates.