UAE unveils platform to expediate visa applications

The UAE has launched platform that will expediate work and residency visa application procedures, cutting the processing time from 30 to just five days as part of the government’s efficiency drive.

The platform, which is known as the “Work Bundle”, will reduce the needed documents from 16 to five, and the number of times to go to service centres from seven to only two.

The first phase of the initiative will be implemented in Dubai and will be gradually expanded to other emirates, according to state-run Emirates News Agency.

It will be provided as a first phase on the “Invest in Dubai” platform, and it is also planned to be available on a number of other government digital platforms

The initiative aligns with the Zero Bureaucracy programme that seeks to simplify government procedures and eliminate unnecessary requirements.

“In our ongoing quest for government excellence, we have recently introduced the ‘Zero Bureaucracy’ initiative, aimed at streamlining procedures and enhancing efficiency within the federal government,” said Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

“Today marks the inaugural launch of the Employment Package, a pioneering project designed to expedite, simplify, and streamline the processes related to residency and employment.”

UAE’s Work Bundle platform

The new integrated online platform integrates all procedures for government entities including the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE), Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship, Customs and Ports Security, Dubai Health, and the Department of Economy and Tourism, and the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA).

The services that are offered by “Work Bundle” include issuing work and residency permits for new employees, renewing a residency permit, medical fitness test for a residency visa, cancelation of work permits and Emirates ID fingerprint scan.

The project, which is backed by Digital Dubai, will cut 25 million procedures annually, 12.5 million annual visits, and 62.5 million working days annually.

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