Picture for illustrative purposes only. ARCHIVE

Apply for Dubai visas via face and smartphone soon

The General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) in Dubai announced that it would provide all its services using facial biometric recognition. Once this project is completed, Dubai residents can apply for visas and entry permits from the comfort of their homes, using smartphones to verify their identity and obtain DGRFA services. Fatima Salem Al Mazroui, director of the project management office at GDRFA, stated on the sidelines of Gitex Global 2022 that the authority is working on the project promptly to launch it as soon as possible. "We aim to have all of GDRFA services and transactions processed through facial biometrics. All GDRFA services such as applying for residency, visa or any other services will be accessible and verified with facial biometrics. Dubai residents will not be required to use a passport or any other document to verify themselves," she said. A facial biometric system has already been implemented at the airport when people use the smart gate if registered. "This facial recognition project that offers all the services of GDRFA will take a while to be implemented because each type of service has a different procedure," she said, adding that it is difficult to give a timeframe for the launch of these services. The General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) currently provides visas, entry permits, residency, and other services. As a result of the influx of foreign workers, Dubai's population surpassed 3.5 million for the first time earlier this year. Al Mazroui also stated that the GDRFA had released a new app version that combines all of its services into a single app, allowing residents to contact the authority with any questions. GDRFA will also be exhibiting nine projects at Gitex Global 2022, including current and upcoming projects. BKM/ Expat Media
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