Fourth Amer centre opens in Al Barsha
dubai — The newly-introduced smart visa processing centres have completed over 16,000 residency related transactions so far, according to a top official.
On Monday, the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) opened its fourth Amer centre, called Aamal, a one-stop centre that allows residents to finish visa and residency transactions along with other government services under one roof, in Al Barsha.
On the sidelines of the opening, Major- General Mohammed Ahmed Al Marri, director-general of the GDRFA, said the first three Amer centres completed 16,146 transactions since the project started in May.
Al Marri said the aim is to provide smart services that reduce time and efforts for people, while providing them with good customer and quick transactions in one place. Marked with its modern digital equipment and trained staff, Amer centres are capable of finishing at least 6,000 transac- tions a day through a minimum of 15 counters, he added.
Starting November 1, the GDRFA stopped all-visa related services across 261 typing centres in Dubai and 72 centres in Sharjah and the Northern Emirates due to constant violations.
The authority opened the first centre in Al Muhaisnah 4 in May, while the second was inaugurated earlier in October at Al Kifaf Municipality Centre.
The third, called Ainiser, completed 2,813 transactions since its opening on Ittihad Road next to Enoc Petrol Station earlier this month.
Residents will be able to complete visa and residency transactions through the four Amer centres and over 45 Tas’heel centres across the UAE, of which 14 Ta’sheel offices are located in Dubai.
The smart centres provide a range of services including issuing entry permits and visit visas, issuing or renewing residency visa, visa cancellation and Emirates ID services among other related government services provided by entities like the Dubai Courts, the Dubai Municipality and Department of Economic Development.
Eleven more Amer centres are scheduled to open by end of this year to serve different densely populated areas across Dubai
sherouk@khaleejtimes.com