UAE cuts processing time for residency permits

Efforts have been made to make it faster to secure residency permits for private sector employees in the UAE.

At least four UAE government bodies have just announced that measures will be in place to reduce the processing time by 50 per cent.

The initiative is part of the world’s first government accelerators, which seek to fast-track the achievement of the National Agenda of the UAE Vision 2021, according to a report by WAM.

It was announced by the Ministries of Interior, Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Health and Prevention, and Human Resources and Emiratisation and the Emirates Identity Authority.

“[The government bodies] have announced measures to reduce by 50 per cent the time required to process a transaction for the [issuance] of a residency permit,” WAM reported on Saturday.

The same government bodies are also expected to carry out “joint projects in record time,” with the end view of transforming government services “to advanced standards by 2021.”

Dr. Hussain Al Rand, Assistant Under-Secretary for Health Centres and Clinics, Ministry of Health, stressed the ministry had established the happiness station at the Ajman Preventive Medicine Centre with other partners to streamline the process of issuing the residency permit.

”The Ministry of Health is committed to co-operating with other government stakeholders to deliver the objectives of the government accelerators regarding the residency permit for private sector staff in 100 days,” he was quoted as saying.

Launched by Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the accelerators have multiple tasks and responsibilities to boost the pace for achieving the goals of the National Agenda and projects.