Dubai residents can now renew their visas within minutes, thanks to the launch of Salama, an AI-powered digital platform introduced by the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA). This innovative service eliminates long wait times and paperwork, significantly enhancing the efficiency of visa processing.
The platform enables residents to complete their visa renewal in as little as one to two minutes, provided all required documents are in order. Salama automatically recognizes users’ details upon login, displays the visa status of dependents, and highlights the number of days remaining before expiration. Once the applicant selects the renewal duration, the system processes the request instantly, allowing them to download their updated visa directly from the platform.
Previously, the visa renewal process in Dubai could take one to three hours, depending on the completeness of documents. With Salama, this has been reduced to just minutes.
“The first phase focuses on renewals and cancellations for residents,”
said Ghaleb Abdullah Mohammed Hassan Al-Majid, Director of the Data Science and Artificial Intelligence Department at GDRFA.
“Future phases will expand services for visitors, tourists, and other GDRFA functions.”
This advancement is part of Dubai’s broader digital transformation strategy. Lieutenant General Mohammed Ahmed Al Marri, General Director of GDRFA Dubai, emphasized,
“We believe that digital transformation is not merely about developing services; it is about redefining the customer experience. The ‘Salama’ AI Platform reflects our commitment to leveraging the latest technologies to enhance the quality of life in Dubai.”
Future Expansions and Business Integration
While currently available for individual residents, Salama will eventually support businesses as well. Al-Majid noted,
“The service will be available for companies in future phases, using smart channels and the GDRFA DXP application.”
As the UAE continues to embrace AI and automation in government services, residents and businesses can expect more streamlined processes in the coming years.
For updates on Salama’s availability and usage, residents are advised to monitor official announcements from GDRFA and related authorities. For more details on visa-related processes, visit our visa services page.
