Dubai: Dubai Municipality has opened its latest customer service centre in Al Kifaf, next to Jafliya metro station.
Hussain Nasser Lootah, director-general of the municipality, on Monday inaugurated the new facility next to the Al Jafliya metro station beside Gate 1 of Zabeel Park.
Built at a cost of Dh24 million, the two-storey building, which follows green building standards, includes service counters and offices built on an area of 60,000 square metres.
Lootah received customers, responded to their queries and distributed application forms for the services provided by the centre.
He said Dubai Municipality always seeks to provide a suitable environment for municipality services as well as the services of local and federal departments under one roof in order to ensure the quality of such services and the simplification of procedures.
The new centre will replace the municipality’s oldest customer service centre in Al Karama, which was built in 1975.
“There are no services for customers at Al Karama Centre any more,” said Noora Abdul Rahman Al Sawalhi, head of Al Kifaf Centre.
She said the customers can avail services faster at Al Kifaf centre which has 71 counters as against just 23 in Karama.
“We have 350 free parking spaces for the customers here and it’s just walking distance from the Jafliya metro station,” Al Sawalhi added.
The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) is the first local department to start its operation under the municipality centre. However, currently, RTA is only providing a kiosk for selling seasonal parking cards. The rest of the RTA services are expected to start later.
“Gradually, comprehensive services of more departments under the municipality and other local and federal departments will be provided at this centre,” said Rashid Al Janahi, customer service supervisor at the centre.
“Now we are open from 7.30am to 2.30pm. There will be an extension of the working hours later when more departments come under one roof over here. We also have a plan to keep a Smart Dubai Government kiosk outside the building which will enable customers to avail of services round the clock,” he said.
The building has easy access for the physically challenged. There is a separate token system and wheelchair service for the disabled, senior citizens and pregnant women.
Free WiFi, mosques for men and women, baby care room, multi-purpose halls for meetings, training sessions and events are other facilities in the centre, which will also provide abayas for scantily-clad female customers to respect the local culture.
Customers can also make use of the mobile app Green Ticket, the digital token system of Dubai Municipality, to seek an appointment at Al Kifaf Centre.
Faster service
Customers were glad to seek services from the new centre. “This is a prime location with not much traffic around. There is free parking and more counters in this centre. This is really helpful in saving time and getting services faster,” said Ala’a Kamal from Egypt, who runs a food supply chain.
Parvez Merchant, an Indian who runs a freight services company, echoed the same view. “The municipality’s services have just got better with this facility. I found it very easy to do the product registration today,” he said.
Services offered currently
Building inspection unit
Food control
Waste management
Public parks membership
Financial services
Municipal books and memorabilia
Ejari registration
RTA seasonal parking card
