GDRFA Dubai processes more than 5 million entry permits as digital services and zero-bureaucracy reforms drive growth
Dubai: Dubai’s General Directorate of Identity and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) processed more than 5 million entry permit transactions, issued over 1.051 million new residency permits, completed more than 910,000 residency renewals, and granted approximately 66,000 Golden Visas during the first half of 2026.
The figures highlight Dubai’s continued growth and the ability of government services to keep pace with rising demand through advanced digital platforms and streamlined procedures.
Lieutenant General Mohammed Ahmed Al Marri, Director General of GDRFA Dubai, said the results reflect the efficiency of Dubai’s government service model and its success in delivering proactive services that meet customer needs quickly and efficiently.
Al Marri noted that the Zero Bureaucracy initiative has been implemented across the directorate for more than a year and remains one of its strategic priorities, supporting Dubai’s wider digital transformation agenda.
Lieutenant General Mohammed Ahmed Al Marri, Director General of GDRFA Dubai.
He said work is continuing to re-engineer services and procedures to provide a more flexible and seamless customer experience while reducing time and effort required to complete transactions.
The initiative aligns with the leadership’s vision of delivering proactive, people-centred government services that strengthen Dubai’s position as a leading destination for living, working, investing and tourism.
Al Marri added that the next phase will see the launch of additional smart services and wider adoption of artificial intelligence technologies to further improve speed, efficiency and service quality.
He said these efforts will help enhance customer experience, promote innovation and increase the flexibility and effectiveness of government services across Dubai.
