Blitz Bureau
NEW DELHI: INDIA and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) held the 6th Meeting of the Joint Committee on Consular Affairs (JCCA) in Abu Dhabi on November 26, agreeing on further steps to enhance cooperation across the consular, visa and legal domains.
The two delegations reviewed progress since the previous meeting of the JCCA held in New Delhi in 2024. The officials exchanged their experiences and best practices followed in the consular domain.
India appreciated the UAE leadership and authorities’ support for the welfare of the Indian community living in the UAE, which serves as a vital bridge in strengthening bilateral ties, according to a statement released by Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). “The discussions resulted in progress in the following four key areas: Enhanced information flow and consular access; Expedited cooperation on Mutual Legal Assistance and Extradition cases; Progressive liberalisation of visa policies; and, an institutionalised review mechanism,” the MEA stated.
India and UAE also reaffirmed their commitment in ensuring the safety, dignity and well-being of their citizens living in each other’s countries. “The meeting took place in an atmosphere of traditional warmth and cooperation that characterises the historic and Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between India and the UAE. Both sides underlined the strength of the relationship, driven by the vision of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and deeply rooted in the close ties between the peoples of the two countries,” the statement added.
The Indian delegation was led by Arun Kumar Chatterjee, Secretary (Consular, Passport, Visa and Overseas Indian Affairs), MEA, and the UAE delegation was led by Omar Obaid AlHesan AlShamsi, Under Secretary of Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The two sides agreed to hold the 7th meeting of the JCCA in India on mutually convenient dates in 2026.
