UAE Residency department to offer quicker service

Abu Dhabi: The General department of residency (GDR) inaugurated a new department on Sunday to provide speedy services to UAE nationals exclusively. GDR was known as Abu Dhabi department of Naturalisation and residency until recently.

"The new department aims at easing procedures and providing speedy services for UAE nationals. The services offered include issuance of passport, adding a new family member such as a child or wife, getting family book and others," said Major General Nasser Al Awadi Al Minhali, Assistant Undersecretary of Naturalisation, residency and border control offices.

The department is housed in the same premises of the GDR. Earlier the same services were provided by a smaller section working under the GDR.

Lieutenant Colonel Mattar Hamad Al Shamsi, deputy general manager, said the average time to issue a passport is about one hour, while citizens could pay an urgent fee to get the job done in 15 minutes.

Two immigration sections — in Al Ain and in Al Gharbia — function under the department.

"The department will help avoid delays by being able to accommodate more people and thus will help provide better quality of service", he said.

As many as 10,587 new passports were issued last year to nationals, according to officials.