Dubai: GDRFA announces automatic passport renewal service for Emiratis

In celebration of the UAE's 50th National Day.

By Sherouk Zakaria

Published: Mon 22 Nov 2021, 12:10 PM

Last updated: Mon 22 Nov 2021, 7:29 PM

Emirati citizens will have their passports automatically renewed and delivered at their doorstep six months before the expiry date, thanks to a smart system announced by the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) in Dubai Monday.

Launched in line with the UAE’s 50th National Day celebrations, the system employs artificial intelligence to detect passports nearing the expiry date before sending out notifications to GDRFA officers for their action.

Passport holders are then contacted to determine their preferred delivery method to receive the passports at their doorstep.

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His Excellency Lieutenant General Mohamed Ahmed Al Marri, General Director of GDRFA, said, “Citizens in Dubai will not need to file a passport renewal request. The process takes place automatically at the GDRFA where we dedicated a team for this service.”

The service, which is currently being implemented for the first time, received widespread admiration from the community. Al Marri said 92 citizens have had their passports automatically renewed and delivered so far.

“The system makes it easier for citizens, especially while planning their trips abroad without noticing that their passports are about to expire,” said Al Marri.

He added that the complete digital transformation in services helps detect the expiry date of passports from the online database.

Al Marri noted the authority is constantly exploring proactive and innovative initiatives in line with the UAE’s government vision to boost the quality of life for citizens and residents.

44,000 recipients of the Golden Visa

During the press briefing, Al Marri revealed that 44,000 residents in Dubai received the Golden Visa since the launch of the long-term residency scheme.

Applications are reviewed daily to ensure they align with the criteria presented by the government.

Al Marri noted a steady increase of travellers at Dubai airports since the beginning of the Covid-19 recovery.

Dubai now sees around 145,000 travellers passing through the airport every day, including a daily record of 65,000 visitors coming into the emirate, approaching close to the number of passengers four years ago.

Al Marri said thanks to the swift and competent measures the UAE has taken to achieve recovery, the number of daily travellers is expected to reach 200,000 soon.

sherouk@khaleejtimes.com