Dubai: More than 300 typing centres were barred from processing residency visa applications after failing to adhere to certain conditions, officials said on Monday.
Starting of November 1, the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs in Dubai (GDRFA) stopped visa-related services at hundreds of typing centres and alternatively provided the facilities at the three Amer Centres.
GDRFA inaugurated a third Amer Centre for visa transaction as part of a plan to have more centres to replace 600 typing centres in the country.
“Residents will be able to complete visa and residency transactions through three Amer centres now beside 10 Tasheel Centres in Dubai. Already we removed our visa services from 300 typing centres after we gave them one and half year to comply with the regulations on space and facility requirements,” Major Salem Mohammad Bin Ali, director of Amer Client Happiness Department at GDRFA Dubai, told Gulf News during the opening of new Amer centre called ‘Eagle’ on Al Ittihad Road.
He said by the end of the year they will have 15 Amer centres in total and will have 30 more centres in the future.
“We want service centres that complies with the UAE government and the country’s reputation to provide the best services for customers.”
GDRFA Dubai is already providing their services through two Amer centres in Al Muhaisna 4 and Dubai Municipality Al Kifaf Centre.
The new centre, which allows residents to complete all visa and residency transactions without having to visit the GDRFA, was launched to simplify transactions and increase efficiency to achieve customer happiness.
Major-General Mohammad Ahmad Al Merri, director-general of the GDRFA, opened the third Amer Centre on Monday in the presence of a number of senior officials from several government entities.
The Amer Centre will provide services ranging from issuing entry permits, issuing or renewing residency visa, visa cancellation and other related services provided by other government institutions and departments.
Maj-Gen Al Merri said the opening of the centre is a part of the plan to develop and expand Amer services, noting that more such centres will be opened in different locations based on the need in each area. The first centre opened in Al Muhaisnah 4 area in Dubai in May.
The centre will also provide a range of services and transactions for a number of government institutions and departments in Dubai, including the GDRFA, Emirates Identity Authority, Dubai Municipality and Dubai Health Authority.
Maj-Gen Al Merri stressed that GDRFA Dubai is keen to achieve the vision of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to make Dubai a model and a pioneer in achieving people’s happiness through smart, innovative initiatives and seven-star services.
“We are working closely with government departments and unifying our efforts in developing comprehensive services that will facilitate people’s lives and enable them to complete their transactions in less time and all in one place,” he added.
Maj-Gen Al Merri added that Dubai has been attracting a wide range of businessmen, investors and major international companies to base their operations in the emirate. “This makes us work hard to develop services by simplifying the procedures for investors, businessmen and tourists as well as citizens and expatriates and achieve happiness for all.”
