New centre to make visa system easier

Abu Dhabi: Visa application procedures for private firms are soon to be eased with the launch of a new customer service centre in Musaffah, officials said at a press conference on Monday.

The centre has been jointly set up by the Ministry of Labour (MoL) and Abu Dhabi Naturalisation and Residency department (ANRD).

"Earlier, to procure a visa in order to employ someone, the firm had to go to the MoL to sanction the papers and then go to the ANRD," said Brigadier Nasser Al Awadi Al Minhali, Acting Director General of the Federal Naturalisation and Residency Department. "With the new centre, these procedures can be completed at the counters. The centre is already functional but the official launch will happen two weeks later", he added.

Vast amounts

According to statistics provided by the ANRD, 412,869 visas were issued across the UAE between July 29 to August 31, of which 369,458 were issued in Dubai.

Al Minhali said that the huge number is inclusive of the visas issued to certain nationalities who are granted visas upon arrival.