Get your Dubai residence visa from this municipality office

Dubai - Under the new system, residents are no longer required to visit the GDRFA to renew or apply for visas

A one-stop centre will allow residents to finish their visa and residency transactions, and municipal services under the same roof, it was announced on Tuesday.

Officials from different government entities inaugurated the second Amer centre, through which residents can renew and apply for their visas. The centre is located at the Dubai Municipality's Al Kifaf centre. The centre will "save time and efforts of residents and allow them to finish all transactions in one go", said an official.

Operated under the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA), the first of 30 Amer business centres opened in Muhaisna 4 area in May. It will eventually replace nearly 600 typing centres across the emirate.

Under the new system, residents are no longer required to visit the GDRFA to renew or apply for visas since all transactions will be carried out through the approved Amer centres.

Major-General Mohammad Ahmad Al Merri, director-general of the GDRFA Dubai, said the aim of opening an Amer centre inside a Dubai Municipality centre is to unify government efforts, simplify transactions and provide different services to customers in one go.

He said since Dubai is attracting a wide range of investors and major international companies, it is necessary to develop services by facilitating the procedures for visitors and residents.

He said the move also helps in boosting Emiratisation across organizations. "About 90 per cent of people working at the centre are Emiratis. We aren't only providing better services to residents, but also more jobs to Emiratis."

The Dubai Municipality's Al Kifaf centre now provides a range of services to government departments, including GDRFA, Emirates Identity Authority, Dubai Municipality and Dubai Health Authority.

Besides completing municipal services, residents can also finish accommodation services, residence permits, residency renewal, cancellation of residence, change of residence to a new passport and short and long visit visa services via Amer.

Residents are urged to contact the GDRFA via the Amer centres for visa transactions to cut time and efforts.

Hussain Nasser Lootah, Director-General of the Dubai Municipality, said the long-term goal is to provide "comprehensive services to customers".

"We open the doors to all government and federal entities to provide their services under one umbrella. Through the GDRFA, we also found a link to the private sector," said Lootah.

Meanwhile, Amer centers will replace the typing centres by November 1 this year and provide services for residents.

sherouk@khaleejtimes.com

• Dubai