UAE consulate to open in Kerala

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) will open a consulate in Kerala soon.

The move would help the thousands from the state working in the Gulf country.

“The UAE consulate will open in Kerala. Its location will be decided by the UAE ambassador to India,” said the source. Kerala Minister for Non-Resident Keralites K.C. Joseph announced the decision.

Currently, Keralites have to travel a minimum of 600 miles to get to the UAE consulate in Mumbai, or 1,200 miles to get to the embassy in Indian capital New Delhi.

“This is going to be a great source of help to Keralites. UAE is the place where the maximum number of the Kerala diaspora is settled,” he said. Currently all those proceeding to the UAE from Kerala have to get their educational certificates certified by the UAE embassy or consulate in New Delhi or Mumbai.

According to sources, over half a million Keralites work in the UAE, accounting for a massive 55 percent of the total Indian expatriate population.