Residents can now apply, renew residency visa on Dubai’s official app DubaiNow

The immigration authority in Dubai is the latest government entity to offer its services at the touch of a button.

The General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) in Dubai has recently launched services on the DubaiNow app to provide residents with the facility of applying, managing and cancelling residency visas for their spouse and / or children.

The DubaiNow app is an initiative carried out by Smart Dubai – a government entity charged with facilitating Dubai's citywide smart transformation, to empower, deliver and promote an efficient, seamless, safe and impactful city experience for residents and visitors.

Available services on DubaiNow

Utilities and bills

Pay your DEWA, Etisalat, du, Dubai Municipality bills. Pay your Dubai Police traffic fines. Top up your Salik, NOL, Dubai Customs Accounts Donate to Dubai Cares and Al Jalila Foundation.

Driving

Renew your vehicle registration. Top up your parking time. Explore street speed limits. View road accident notifications to plan your travel efficiently. Find your nearest petrol station and Tasjeel centres.

Public Transport

Track Dubai Airport flight departures and arrivals. Call a Taxi. View the Road and Transport Authority (RTA) metro map. Plan your journey to and from any point, and view the best routes.

Education

Find schools registered with Dubai's Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) and universities’ information and filter by name, rating, annual fees, curriculum and location.

General

View Dubai Calendar and Dubai’s daily weather conditions. Find your nearest ATM, and use the fastest route to reach Track Emirates Post (Empost) shipments and view shipping rates. Send your feedback or report complaints regarding any government department service in Dubai. Access Makani to locate specific buildings and addresses in Dubai, a service provided by Dubai Municipality

Islam

View daily prayer timings, find your nearest mosque and select the fastest route to get there.

Security

Report a violation to Dubai Police. Find the nearest Dubai Police Station and select the fastest route to get there. Inquire about the status of Dubai Court’s cases. Call emergency numbers like Dubai Police, Ambulance, Fire Department, and DEWA.

Business

Search for trade activity with the Department of Economic Development (DED). Track and renew trade licenses registered with the DED. Reserve a trade name.

Dubai Launched Virtual Commercial License for non-resident business people and freelancers

Sheikh Maktoum Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, announced the launch of the region's first 'Virtual Company Licence’.

The programme allows only verified non-resident individuals to register a company, and the owners of such companies have to be the nationals or tax residents of countries that have implemented the Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters and share tax information about their citizens and residents.

Eligible countries

The official website has a heatmap showing the eligible and non-eligible countries across the globe. India, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, China, Russia, North Americas, South Africa, Nigeria, Cameroon, Uganda, Brazil, Argentina, Chile are some of the countries on the eligible list. Yemen, Oman, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Venezuela, Algeria, Egypt are on the non-eligible list according to the map online.

What does this mean?

The Virtual Company Licence will allow investors worldwide to do business in Dubai digitally without requiring residence and in accordance with the highest international legal standards. Virtual Company Licence owners can manage all their business-related activities, including document signing and submission digitally, and the signatures are legally binding in the UAE.

This initiative is aligned with the third Article of the 50-Year Charter of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, which aims to build a ‘Virtual Commercial City’ in Dubai.

The Virtual Company Licence will enable freelancers and business people worldwide to have access to a regulated e-commerce platform and easily work with Dubai-based companies while also exploring new markets and investment opportunities digitally.