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.

Residency permit processing time in UAE reduced 50%

The ministries of Interior, Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Health and

Prevention, and Human Resources and Emiratization and Emirates Identity Authority have announced measures to reduce by 50 per cent the time required to process a transaction for the issue of a residency permit.

The move is part of the world's first government accelerators, a new government approach that will accelerate the achievement of the National Agenda of the UAE Vision 2021.

Launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, the accelerators have multiple tasks and responsibilities to boost the pace for achieving the goals of the National Agenda and projects.

The government bodies will also be tasked with implementing joint projects in record time to transform government services to advanced standards by 2021.

Dr. Hussain Al Rand, Assistant Under-Secretary for Health Centres and Clinics, Ministry of Health, stressed the ministry had established the happiness station at the Ajman Preventive Medicine Centre with other partners to streamline the process of issuing the residency permit.

''The Ministry of Health is committed to co-operating with other government stakeholders to deliver the objectives of the government accelerators regarding the residency permit for private sector staff in 100 days,'' he affirmed.

U.A.E Residence visa never cancelled automatically

A common question asked by most of the employees in U.A.E, the residence visa expire on the date mentioned in the visa require cancellation. It is very important to keep in mind that a residence visa can expire and become invalid in time, but never automatically cancelled. All visas should be properly cancelled even if someone is leaving the UAE or able to stay on a tourist visa. They will face problems when attempting to re-enter the country on a visit visa. If visa not properly cancelled it is  not possible to obtain a new residence visa . If an employer or sponsor has not dealt with this, an individual can go to any main office of the Immigration Department in the relevant emirate, or the one where the visa was issued, with a passport to request cancellation. The charges should amount to no more than Dh250 including typing fees. The Emirates ID card must be handed over when the visa is cancelled as part of the process, as the identity card is linked to the visa.