The Consulate General of India in the UAE held a successful Open House at the Indian Association Ajman’s Sheikh Humaid Bin Rashid Al Nuaimi Auditorium and Sports Complex in Al Jurf. The event attracted around 100 Indian nationals from Ajman and addressed a wide range of topics, including passport services, education, trade, consular matters, legal issues, visas, Overseas Citizenship of India , labor, domestic workers, and welfare.
Consulate Officials, and a team of legal experts and volunteers was available to assist attendees with their queries. Many grievances were resolved immediately, while more complex cases were noted for follow-up. The entire event was supervised by Consul General of India Satish Kumar Sivan.
Roop Sidhu, General Secretary of the Indian Association Ajman, highlighted the organization’s history and significance. “The Indian Association was founded in 2001, and in 2011, Sheikh Humaid bin Rashid Al Nuaimi, Ruler of Ajman, gifted three acres of land to build our new premises in Al Jurf,” Sidhu stated. He emphasized the strong bilateral relationship between India and the UAE, noting the association’s efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic, including providing 1.4 million vaccination doses regardless of nationality or visa status.
The Consulate reaffirmed its commitment to serving the community, with consular officers available daily, including weekends and holidays, since August 2020. A 24/7 emergency helpline is also available for assistance, and the Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF) provides financial aid to distressed Indian nationals in deserving cases.
Open Houses serves as a crucial communication channel between the Government of India and the estimated 3.5 million Indian diaspora in the UAE, particularly those in Dubai and the Northern Emirates. This outreach effort aims to directly address the concerns of the Indian community across the six northern emirates at the grassroots level.
The Indian Association Ajman, founded in 2001 with 50 founding members, now boasts a membership of 700. The land for the community center where the Open House was conducted was gifted by Sheikh Humaid bin Rashid Al Nuaimi, Member of the Supreme Council and the Ruler of Ajman, further illustrating the strong ties between India and the UAE leadership.
– By Vinod Kumar (Dubai)
