The General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) in Dubai has unveiled its revolutionary new artificial intelligence platform, 'Salama,' aimed at transforming the efficiency and accessibility of residency services. This significant announcement was made during the Fourth Annual Media Council held at GDRFA headquarters, attended by senior officials, including Lieutenant General Mohammed Ahmed Al Marri, the Director General of GDRFA Dubai.
Salama is set to simplify the residency application process, providing users with a fast, seamless method to manage residency tasks. Through this innovative platform, individuals can renew or cancel residency permits, complete transactions, and make payments without the cumbersome need for traditional paperwork. This development not only demonstrates GDRFA’s commitment to enhancing service delivery but also aligns with the UAE’s Vision 2071 and supports Dubai’s broader Digital Transformation Strategy.
Lieutenant General Al Marri emphasized the power of digital transformation, stating, "Digital transformation is not just about building services; it’s about redefining customer experiences, improving government performance, and fulfilling the visionary leadership’s goal of providing more accessible, efficient services." His comments reflect a growing recognition of how technological advancements can redefine government services.
Equipped with sophisticated algorithms, the Salama platform tailors responses to individual needs, marking it as a game-changer for how residents engage with government services. "The launch of the ‘Salama’ AI platform marks a major shift in how users engage with government services," according to Colonel Khalid bin Madia Al Falasi, Assistant Director General of the Digital Services Affairs Sector at GDRFA Dubai.
Currently, the focus is primarily on individual residents who wish to renew or cancel their residency permits. During the media council forum, GDRFA officials conducted live demonstrations of the platform. One applicant successfully completed the residency permit renewal for their daughter within seconds. After logging on through the secure services available via the smart channel or UAE Pass, the AI-powered system automatically recognized the user’s data, presented the details of the dependent’s stay duration, and allowed the user to select renewal options effortlessly. Following the selection, payment was swiftly processed, and the renewed visa was sent directly to the applicant’s registered email.
This platform not only promises efficiency but also supports over 40 languages, making it accessible to Dubai's diverse population. Each transaction can take as little as 10-20 seconds, drastically reducing the prior processing time, which could take hours if traditional methods were employed.
Ghaleb Abdullah Mohammed Hassan Al-Majid, Director of the Data Science and Artificial Intelligence Department, stated, "Now, it has been reduced to just one to two minutes, when all provided documents are in order." Al-Majid added, emphasising the recognition of user data streamlining the entire process, showcasing the advances being made through Salama.
Looking to the future, Salama is poised to extend its capabilities to include business services, aiming to assist companies as well. Colonel Al Falasi noted, "We are constantly evaluating to keep pace with AI and technological advancements," indicating exciting developments on the horizon for commercial residency applications as part of GDRFA’s commitment to innovation.
This introduction of the Salama AI platform exemplifies Dubai’s leadership within the global sphere of smart government initiatives. The ability for residents to renew their visas and residency permits online, efficiently, and without the need for long waits or paperwork, highlights the progress being made toward making Dubai's bureaucratic processes more user-friendly.
Emphasizing this transformative approach, Lieutenant General Al Marri remarked on the overarching goal: "We believe digital transformation is not merely about developing services; it is about redefining the customer experience to improve governmental performance."
Through the launch of Salama, the GDRFA has not only redefined how residency and visa processes are handled but has strongly positioned itself at the forefront of Dubai’s digital future. Residents can now manage their documentation with ease from the comfort of their homes, signifying a major step toward enhancing the quality of life in Dubai.