Twins reunited with Dubai family after quick GDRFA approval

  DUBAI – Following the new approval system for Dubai resident visa holders, Pakistani twins were finally reunited with their family in Dubai on Tuesday (June 23) after months of being stranded abroad. Masuma and Sundas Bilal, 6, were greeted by their mother and brother at the Dubai International Airport after being stuck in Pakistan since March. Their mother was able to secure approval for their return to Dubai on Monday, using the revamped online system by the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA). The new online approval system is aimed at making it quicker for Dubai visa holders to get approval to return to the emirate. Emirates airline, which referred travellers to the GDRFA website on Monday, said it will generate “instant response” for those eligible to travel to Dubai. The website https://smart.gdrfad.gov.ae/Smart_OTCServicesPortal/ReturnPermitServiceForm.aspx was adapted from the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship’s (ICA) Twajudi system to allow residents to return to the UAE. Only those with residence visa issued in Dubai are eligible to apply on the GDRFA website. Those with residence visas issued from other emirates will continue to apply through the ICA website. Click here for details For the Bilal twins, the revamped online approval system was a blessing after months of being away from their family, with only video calls to keep them updated. Shabib Shumila, the twin’s aunt who accompanied them on the flight to Dubai, said the twins’ mother got approval for the travel “within five minutes”. “The system is really efficient. She applied at 2pm yesterday (June 22) and at 2:05pm she received the approval," Khaleej Times quoted Shumila as saying. Dubai residents who want to return to the emirate are required to get an approval from GDRFA before booking their flight tickets. ICA/Expat Media
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