Over a million visas issued to highlight Dubai as media hub

DUBAI: The General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs in Dubai (GDRFA-DUBAI), said it has issued more than one million visas featuring the ‘Dubai, Capital of Arab Media 2020’ logo over the last four months.

The logo appears at the bottom left-hand corner of the visa page.

The initiative seeks to highlight the UAE’S status as a regional and global media hub as well as the efforts of Dubai’s leadership in driving media industry growth in the region.

Major General Mohammed Ahmed Al Marri, Director General of the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs in Dubai said that the decision is part of its efforts to raise the profile of Dubai’s achievements among global audiences.

Highlighting the recognition Dubai received from the Council of Arab Information Ministers will create further interest among worldwide audiences in Dubai as an investment and tourism destination, he added.

Major General Al Marri further said the recognition coincides with Dubai hosting the Mena region’s first Expo 2020 which will enhance the city’s status as a global commercial hub and a bridge between the east and the west.

“These achievements encourage all government entities to strive harder to contribute to the UAE’S continued progress and achievements across all fields. The GDRFA-DUBAI is keen to showcase both the UAE’S and Dubai’s key accomplishments and highlight the remarkable progress it has made over the last five decades,” he added.

Welcoming GDRFA-DUBAI’S initiative, Mona Al Marri, Vice Chairman and Managing Director of the Dubai Media Council and Director General of the Government of Dubai Media Office, GDMO, said, “We appreciate the unique initiative taken by GDRFA-DUBAI to feature the logo in visas issued out of Dubai.

“Over the last two decades, key Dubai initiatives such as the Arab Media Forum and the Arab Journalism Award have created a platform for the region’s media industry to engage in dialogue and knowledge-sharing.”

She further said the vision set by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, 20 years ago helped create a solid base for Dubai’s leadership in the media industry, which today has culminated in its recognition as the ‘Capital of Arab Media for 2020.’

“Dubai is a vibrant global media hub with more than 4,000 companies across media sectors,” she noted.

Showcasing the logo will contribute to reinforcing Dubai’s reputation as a media hub regionally and globally, she added.

Individuals submitting fake documents to obtain a UAE visa fail to realise Dubai’s extensive and foolproof visa application system.

“We have a well-trained team [that handle] documentation and [able to] detect fake documents,” said Major General Al Marri.

He added that the system does not depend on submitted documents alone - such as ID’S or tenancy contracts - to issue a residence or visit visa.

“We have an internal system to check the history of applicants, which gives officers the right tools to approve or reject an application,” he said in an interview on the sidelines of the ACFE Fraud Conference Middle East in Dubai, running from 23rd-25th February.

Al Marri said the fully automated system also does not allow employees to manually sign off on an application, thus preventing the risk of staff fraud. This leaves “no room for any wrongdoing,” he explained.

He further stated that none of GDRFA’S over 5,000 employees handle cash as part of their job, which he said is a “high-risk” activity and prone to potential fraud and bribery.

The official also noted the challenges that many organisations face when it comes to cash and daily closure of cash accounts.

Moreover, the automated system enables the organisation to audit, track and detect any wrongdoings even after many years have passed. “You can keep track of applications or documents even after 10 or 15 years. There is transparency and the best type of accountability in the entire system,” Captain Al Marri affirmed.

According to the latest data released ahead of the Arabian Travel Market (ATM 2020), an additional three million international visitors are expected to visit the UAE during Expo 2020 Dubai, with arrivals from India, Saudi Arabia, the Philippines, the United Kingdom and Pakistan driving this influx.

The annual travel and tourism event will take place at the Dubai World Trade Centre from 19th-22nd April, 2020.

The research from Colliers International, in partnership with the ATM, predicts the number of Indian visitors travelling to the UAE will increase by 770,000 between 2020 and 2021, while arrivals from Saudi Arabia will increase by 240,000, the Philippines and UK both by 150,000 and Pakistan by 140,000, during the same time period.