Dubai: The flydubai budget airline and the Dubai Naturalisation and Residency Department (DNRD) are teaming up to provide travellers with an easy way to collect their visas by e-mail or mobile phone.
The service was intended to eliminate the hassle from the visa process and will undergo trials for three months starting May 19, the companies said.
Under the plan the airline said it would offer M-visas at no additional charge to passengers.
DNRD Director General Major General Mohammad Ahmad Al Merri said: "The launch of our electronic visa service with flydubai highlights our commitment to making the visa process as easy as possible for the public".
"This new development is in line with the directives of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, in enabling DNRD to carry out its mission to serve the community and the public," he said.
"DNRDs management is in a constant search for the latest electronic technologies and how to employ them to speed up procedures and reduce congestion in branches of the DNRD.
"The new service enables people to complete a transaction simply and easily in line with the strategy of the DNRD to provide the best services to all customers in the country and abroad through the use of the latest advanced technology such as the internet and mobile devices."
Customers would be informed immediately via e-mail and SMS text messaging when visas were ready.
"The DNRD and flydubai will work together to ensure the travel agency staff abroad are aware of the latest developments in the visa procedure to avoid some of the problems and complications which arise from a lack of knowledge of the laws which apply in the UAE," he said.
