India-UAE hold 6th joint committee meeting on Consular Affairs in Abu Dhabi

New Delhi, Nov 26: The 6th meeting of the India–UAE Joint Committee on Consular Affairs (JCCA) was held in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday.

The Indian delegation was led by Arun Kumar Chatterjee, Secretary (Consular, Passport, Visa and Overseas Indian Affairs), Ministry of External Affairs. The UAE side was headed by Omar Obaid AlHesan AlShamsi, Undersecretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The discussions were preceded by technical-level meetings. Held in a spirit of cooperation, the meeting reflected the close ties that underpin the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two nations. India thanked the UAE authorities for their continued support to the large Indian community living in the country, which both sides recognised as a key pillar of the relationship. They reaffirmed their commitment to safeguard the welfare and dignity of their citizens residing in each other’s territories. The delegations reviewed developments since the last JCCA meeting in New Delhi in May 2024 and agreed to further strengthen cooperation in consular, visa and legal matters. Progress was noted in four main areas: improved information-sharing and consular access, faster coordination on mutual legal assistance and extradition cases, gradual easing of visa policies, and the establishment of a structured review mechanism. The seventh JCCA meeting will be hosted by India in 2026 on mutually agreed dates.