GDRFA-Dubai showcases technology leadership through GITEX-2014

Mobilk - The General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs in Dubai (GDRFA-Dubai) is showcasing its technology leadership in smooth and secure travel facilitation, through its biggest-ever participation in the Gulf Information Technology Exhibition (GITEX) in Dubai from October 12 to 16.

An impressive line-up of new technologies from GDRFA-Dubai tops the key attractions of the 33rd edition of the world’s third biggest ICT show at the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC).

GDRFA-Dubai’s portfolio of new smart services include a unique 3D robot that it plans to deploy at the Dubai International Airport and GDRFA-Dubai customer service centres in the emirate  for answering queries from passengers and customers. 

In his message in the October edition of Manafez Dubai, the bi-lingual newsletter of GDRFA-Dubai launched coinciding with GITEX-2014, Major General Mohammed Ahmed Al Marri, Director General of GDRFA-Dubai, said: “ We have spared no efforts in utilizing our biggest-ever participation in GITEX since 2009 to highlight our technological leadership in efficient and seamless travellers’ facilitation.” 

The 3D multi-language robot was created base on the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to make Dubai the best in customer services domain. The GDRFA-Dubai plans to utilize the robot with voice and video streaming facilities in a big way as part of its smart services strategy. 

GDRFA-Dubai has also unveiled the first of its kind electricity-powered car dedicated to serve the needs of transit passengers at Dubai International, the world’s second busiest airport for international passengers with about 52 per cent of its total passengers being transit travellers. The AMR car with GDRFA-Dubai officers on board can move inside the Dubai airport’s halls, from one gate to the other, thereby enabling them serve the transit passengers well, especially during the rush hours. This project is in line with the instructions of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed to offer transit passengers the option to enter Dubai and tour its major landmarks during the short time available to them while in transit. 

Enhancing its participation by an average of 15 per cent annually in terms of exhibition space at GITEX, the GDRFA-Dubai had introduced several services in the previous editions, including Mobile Visa (M-Visa),  e-Gates, Smart Gates, AMR self-service kiosks and online visas and payment facilities.  

GDRFA-Dubai, in the next few months, will go through a dramatic change in terms of all systems, applications and procedures as part of the UAE Vision 2020 which will help in achieving a qualitative leap in the standards, speed and effectiveness of its services. GDRFA-Dubai, which introduced the project to the UAE Ministry of Interior, will be launching pad for the project in the first phase. It will be applied nationwide at a later stage, the newsletter disclosed. 

In his column, Major General Obaid Moheir bin Suroor, Deputy Director General of GDRFA-Dubai, said: “Over the next few years, Dubai airports are projected to handle between 250 and 300 million passengers which is about 17 million passengers a month or 500000 passengers a day. This huge number of travelers will be, without any doubts, a difficult challenge to ensure completion of travel procedures in a matter of few seconds.”

He added: “This mammoth challenge requires us to move quickly in developing new techniques, electronic platforms, smart services, simplification of regulations and procedures and enhance the professional skills and productivity of our staff. We need to achieve a balance between the need to facilitate faster travel procedures along with meeting the escalating security challenges. Our experience in dealing with large number of passengers allowed us to develop the philosophy of flexible use of our resources to serve our requirements.” 

GDRFA-Dubai’s strategic technology partner, emaratech, disclosed that the e-Visa system has processed more than 50 million applications and transactions for individuals, establishments and channel partners while the call centres have received and managed 1.13 million contacts. 

Noqodi, emaratech’s home grown payment channel, has processed over 3.8 million applications last year, said Thani Alzaffin, Director General and Board Member of emaratech. The company disclosed that 28 of the second generation of e-Gates, best known as the smart gates, are already operational in Terminal 3 of Dubai International Airport with 38 smart counters and growing with rollout plans for Terminals 1 and 2 and Al Maktoum International Airport in Dubai World Central (DWC). The smart gates are free to use by registered UAE citizens and residents, GCC nationals and nationals of 43 pre-approved countries eligible for visas on arrival. 

The newsletter has a special report about the AED120 billion expansion plans for the Al Maktoum International Airport in Dubai World Central (DWC). Also, latest news and developments are featured in the UAE, Middle East and GDRFA-Dubai sections. Two special studies highlights the impact of visa abolition on East European immigrants and talent shortage faced by companies globally. In New Technology section, a report highlights about a new technology that will help authorities trace hidden currencies in bulk.  

In the Opinion Columns, Nick Clegg, Deputy Prime Minister of United Kingdom, asserts the benefits of well-managed immigration, while Malusi Gigaba, South Africa’s Minister of Home Affairs, has put across his point of view about a secured citizenship and identity. 

Conceptualized, produced, marketed and promoted by Nadd Al Shiba PR & Event Management, the online version of the 120-page glossy, multi-colour publication is available at www.manafezdubai.com.