More travellers arriving than leaving Dubai, says GDRFA chief

Dubai: The number of travellers arriving in Dubai continues to exceed departures, reinforcing the emirate’s position as a leading global destination for living, working and long-term residence, a senior official has said.

Lieutenant General Mohammed Ahmed Al Marri, Director General of the General Directorate of Identity and Foreigners Affairs – Dubai (GDRFA), said operations across all entry points are running at peak efficiency, reflecting the strength and resilience of the emirate’s travel and border management systems.

Speaking during an intervention on Al Oula Radio, Al Marri highlighted findings from recent inspection tours covering Dubai International Airport, the Hatta land border crossing, and the Violators and Foreigners Follow-up Sector in Al Aweer. The visits focused on assessing operational readiness, enhancing performance, and strengthening coordination among relevant authorities.

Integrated readiness drives stability

Al Marri stressed that seamless integration between air and land entry points, alongside follow-up sectors, is a cornerstone of Dubai’s security and stability framework.

He noted that sustained investment in operational efficiency and institutional integration has played a key role in strengthening customer confidence and enhancing Dubai’s global competitiveness.

“The development of operational systems reflects our commitment to translating leadership directives into advanced, sustainable services based on innovation and proactive approaches,” he said, adding that efforts are focused on balancing streamlined procedures with robust community protection.

Teamwork fuels high performance

Praising the collaborative spirit across entities, Al Marri said the high level of performance achieved reflects the professionalism of teams and the effectiveness of institutional integration.

“These efforts support the UAE’s vision for global leadership and further cement Dubai’s standing as a benchmark for quality of life and government excellence,” he added.

 Fast, seamless airport experience

During his visit to Dubai International Airport, Al Marri reviewed passenger processing halls and travel flow systems, noting the ability to efficiently handle high passenger volumes in line with the highest international standards.

He said travellers benefit from fast, seamless and integrated services that significantly enhance the overall travel experience.

 Smooth flow at land borders

At the Hatta border crossing, Al Marri inspected arrival and departure halls as well as external checkpoints, highlighting the flexibility of operations and the smooth flow of travellers across land entry points.

 Advanced systems for case management

The tour also included the Violators and Foreigners Follow-up Sector in Al Aweer, where Al Marri reviewed operations at the shelter facility and mechanisms for managing residency violations within precise legal and regulatory frameworks that support community stability.

He also inspected the operations room and digital systems used to monitor cases and manage reports, noting that these technologies enhance response speed and decision-making accuracy, in line with Dubai Government’s drive to leverage advanced solutions to boost institutional performance and operational efficiency.